Compositions and methods for detecting, treating and preventing diseases and disorders

ABSTRACT

The invention described herein relates to the discovery that renalase, and fragments thereof, are useful for the treatment or prevention of cardiac and renal diseases or disorders. Thus, the invention relates to compositions comprising renalase, or fragments thereof, and methods for treating and preventing cardiac and renal disease or disorders.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is the U.S. national phase application filedunder 35 U.S.C. § 371 claiming benefit to International PatentApplication No. PCT/US2013/50660, filed on Jul. 16, 2013, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/671,826, filedJul. 16, 2012, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/750,916, filed Jan.10, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/813,778, filed Apr.19, 2013, all of which applications are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with government support under Grant Nos.RC1DK086465, RC1DK086402, RO1DK065172, and R01DK081037 awarded by theNational Institute of Health (NIH). The government has certain rights inthe invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) is a devastating clinicalcomplication resulting in renal tubular death and systemic inflammation.Patients with kidney dysfunction have elevated plasma catecholaminelevels. In addition to causing hypertension, catecholamines produce aninflammatory response in sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction.

Renalase is a 38 kDa flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent amineoxidase synthesized and secreted by the renal proximal tubules (Xu etal., 2005, J Clin Invest 115: 1275-1280). Renalase degrades circulatingcatecholamines and regulates systemic blood pressure in rodents andhumans (Desir, 2012, Pediatr Nephrol 27: 719-725). Plasma catecholaminesand systemic blood pressure are elevated in patients with chronic kidneydysfunction or end stage renal insufficiency (Schlaich, 2009, J Am SocNephrol 20: 933-939). Recent studies suggest that renalase deficiency inpatients with chronic renal insufficiency leads to increased plasmacatecholamine levels and systemic blood pressure (Desir, 2012, PediatrNephrol 27: 719-725; Desir, 2009, Kidney Int 76: 366-370; Desir, 2011,Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 20: 31-36; Li et al., 2008, Circulation 117:1277-1282).

In addition to regulating blood pressure, renalase may protect againstinflammatory tissue injury by metabolizing catecholamines Catecholaminesvia activation of leukocyte alpha adrenergic receptors directly causeinflammation in sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction (Grisanti et al.,2011, J Pharmacol Exp Ther 338: 648-657; Miksa et al., 2009, PLoS One 4:e5504). Indeed, patients with chronic renal insufficiency show increasedmarkers of inflammation that contribute directly to increased morbidityand mortality (Kaysen and Eiserich, 2003, Semin Dial 16: 438-446). Inmice, renalase deficiency resulted in exacerbated cardiac IR injury andexogenous renalase administration reduced myocardial necrosis (Wu etal., 2011, Kidney Int 79: 853-860).

Ischemic acute kidney injury is a major problem for patients subjectedto major surgical procedures involving the kidney, liver, heart or aorta(Chertow et al., 2005, J Am Soc Nephrol 16: 3365-3370). Renal ischemiareperfusion (IR) injury is a frequent cause of clinical AKI with theincidence of AKI exceeding 50% after major cardiac, hepatobiliary oraortic surgery (Bove et al., 2004, J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 18:442-445; Elapavaluru and Kellum, 2007, Acta Clin Belg Supp! 326-331).Furthermore, ischemic AKI is frequently complicated by multi-organdysfunction, systemic inflammation, sepsis and death (Jones and Lee,2008, Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 22: 193-208). Unfortunately,there are no proven therapies to prevent or treat AKI in theperioperative setting (Jo et al., 2007, Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2:356-365).

Thus, there is a need in the art for compositions and methods for thetreatment and prevention of renal injury, such as AKI. The presentinvention addresses this unmet need in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to renalase, and fragments thereof, whichare useful for the treatment or prevention of diseases and disorders,such as cardiac and renal diseases or disorders. Thus, the inventionrelates to compositions comprising renalase, or fragments thereof, aswells as to methods for treating and preventing diseases and disorders.In one embodiment, the invention is a method of treating a renal diseaseor disorder in a subject in need thereof, including the step ofadministering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of acomposition comprising at least one agent, wherein the at least oneagent is at least one selected from the group consisting of a renalasepolypeptide, a renalase polypeptide fragment, and an activator ofrenalase. In some embodiments, the renalase polypeptide is a recombinantrenalase polypeptide. In one embodiment, the renalase polypeptidecomprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. In anotherembodiment, the renalase polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 10. In one embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragmentcomprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. In anotherembodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragment comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In another embodiment, the renalasepolypeptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.In some embodiments, the at least one agent is administered one time. Inother embodiments, the at least one agent is administered repeatedly. Invarious embodiments, the at least one agent is administered locally,regionally or systemically. In various embodiments, the activator ofrenalase is an activator of renalase expression, an activator ofrenalase activity, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, therenal disease or disorder is at least one selected from the groupconsisting of renal ischemic injury, renal reperfusion injury, renalischemic-reperfusion injury, toxic renal injury, renal tubular necrosis,renal tubular inflammation, renal tubular apoptosis, and hypertension.In various embodiments, the activator of renalase is at least oneselected from the group consisting of a chemical compound, a protein, apeptide, a peptidomemetic, and a small molecule chemical compound. Insome embodiments, the subject is human.

In one embodiment, the invention is a composition comprising a renalasepolypeptide fragment comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.In another embodiment, the invention is a composition comprising arenalase polypeptide fragment comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 3. In another embodiment, the invention is a renalase polypeptidefragment comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of diagnosing a renaldisease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, including the steps ofdetermining the level of renalase in a biological sample of the subject,comparing the level of renalase in the biological sample of the subjectwith a comparator control, and diagnosing the subject with a renaldisease or disorder when the level of renalase in the biological sampleof subject is reduced when compared with the level of renalase of thecomparator control. In some embodiments, the method further comprisesthe step of treating the subject that was diagnosed as having a renaldisease or disorder. In some embodiments, the level of renalase in thebiological sample is determined by measuring the level of renalase mRNAin the biological sample. In other embodiments, the level of renalase inthe biological sample is determined by measuring the level of renalasepolypeptide in the biological sample. In some embodiments, the level ofrenalase in the biological sample is determined by measuring anenzymatic activity of renalase polypeptide in the biological sample. Invarious embodiments, the comparator control is at least one selectedfrom the group consisting of: a positive control, a negative control, ahistorical control, a historical norm, or the level of a referencemolecule in the biological sample. In various embodiments, the renaldisease or disorder is at least one selected from the group consistingof renal ischemic injury, renal reperfusion injury, renalischemic-reperfusion injury, toxic renal injury, renal tubular necrosis,renal tubular inflammation, renal tubular apoptosis, and hypertension.In some embodiments, the subject is human.

In one embodiment, the invention is a method of treating a cardiacdisease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, including the step ofadministering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of acomposition comprising at least one agent, wherein the at least oneagent is at least one selected from the group consisting of a renalasepolypeptide, a renalase polypeptide fragment, and an activator ofrenalase. In some embodiments, the renalase polypeptide is a recombinantrenalase polypeptide. In one embodiment, the renalase polypeptidecomprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. In anotherembodiment, the renalase polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 10. In one embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragmentcomprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. In anotherembodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragment comprises the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In another embodiment, the renalasepolypeptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.In some embodiments, the at least one agent is administered one time. Inother embodiments, the at least one agent is administered repeatedly. Invarious embodiments, the at least one agent is administered locally,regionally or systemically. In various embodiments, the activator ofrenalase is an activator of renalase expression, an activator ofrenalase activity, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, thecardiac disease or disorder is at least one selected from the groupconsisting of myocardial necrosis, congestive heart failure, cardiacischemic injury, cardiac reperfusion injury, cardiacischemic-reperfusion injury and hypertension. In various embodiments,the activator of renalase is at least one selected from the groupconsisting of a chemical compound, a protein, a peptide, apeptidomemetic, and a small molecule chemical compound. In someembodiments, the subject is human.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of diagnosing a cardiacdisease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, including the steps ofdetermining the level of renalase in a biological sample of the subject,comparing the level of renalase in the biological sample of the subjectwith a comparator control, and diagnosing the subject with a cardiacdisease or disorder when the level of renalase in the biological sampleof subject is reduced when compared with the level of renalase of thecomparator control. In some embodiments, the method further comprisesthe step of treating the subject that was diagnosed as having a cardiacdisease or disorder. In some embodiments, the level of renalase in thebiological sample is determined by measuring the level of renalase mRNAin the biological sample. In other embodiments, the level of renalase inthe biological sample is determined by measuring the level of renalasepolypeptide in the biological sample. In some embodiments, the level ofrenalase in the biological sample is determined by measuring anenzymatic activity of renalase polypeptide in the biological sample. Invarious embodiments, the comparator control is at least one selectedfrom the group consisting of: a positive control, a negative control, ahistorical control, a historical norm, or the level of a referencemolecule in the biological sample. In various embodiments, the cardiacdisease or disorder is at least one selected from the group consistingof myocardial necrosis, congestive heart failure, cardiac ischemicinjury, cardiac reperfusion injury, cardiac ischemic-reperfusion injuryand hypertension. In some embodiments, the subject is human.

In one embodiment, the invention is a method of treating cancer in asubject in need thereof, including the step of administering to thesubject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprisingat least one agent, wherein the at least one agent is a renalaseinhibitor. In some embodiments, the at least one agent is administeredone time. In other embodiments, the at least one agent is administeredrepeatedly. In various embodiments, the at least one agent isadministered locally, regionally or systemically. In some embodiments,the renalase inhibitor is an inhibitor of renalase expression, aninhibitor of renalase activity, or a combination thereof. In variousembodiments, the renalase inhibitor is at least one selected from thegroup consisting of an antibody, a chemical compound, a protein, apeptide, a peptidomemetic, and a small molecule chemical compound. Inone embodiment, the renalase inhibitor is an antibody that specificallybinds to renalase. In various embodiments, the antibody is at least oneselected from the group consisting of a polyclonal antibody, amonoclonal antibody, an intracellular antibody, an antibody fragment, asingle chain antibody (scFv), a heavy chain antibody, a syntheticantibody, a chimeric antibody, and a humanized antibody. In someembodiments, the subject is human.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of theinvention will be better understood when read in conjunction with theappended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, thereare shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments shown inthe drawings.

FIG. 1, comprising FIGS. 1A and 1B, is a set of images showing thatrenalase co-localizes with proximal tubules. Pig kidney sections wereco-stained with a renalase antibody and either with a megalin antibody(a proximal tubule marker—FIG. 1A) or with an E-cadherin (a distaltubule marker—FIG. 1B). It was observed that renalase is exclusivelyexpressed in proximal tubules. Representative of 3 experiments. Imageswere magnified 100× for megalin co-staining and 40× for E-cadherinco-staining.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing plasma norepinephrine levels in mice. Plasmanorepinephrine levels were measured in mice subjected to sham-operationor to renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury (N=3-5 per group). Plasmanorepinephrine concentration significantly increased 24 hr. after renalIR in renalase wild type (WT) mice and this increase was even higher inrenalase deficient (KO) mice. *P<0.05 vs. sham group. #P<0.05 vs. WT IRgroup.

FIG. 3, comprising FIGS. 3A and 3B, is a set of images and graphsshowing plasma and kidney renalase levels in mice. FIG. 3A:representative immunoblot (top) and band intensity quantifications(bottom) for plasma renalase protein in sham-operated mice and micesubjected to 30 min. renal ischemia and 5 hr. or 24 hr. reperfusion(N=4-5 per group). Note significant reductions in plasma renalase afterrenal IR. FIG. 3B: Representative images (top) and GAPDH-normalized bandintensity quantifications (bottom) for kidney renalase mRNA in renalaseWT or renalase KO mice. Mice were subjected to sham-operation or to 30min. renal ischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion (N=4 per group). GAPDH mRNAserved as internal loading controls. Consistent with the significantdecreases in plasma renalase, kidney renalase mRNA expression wassignificantly attenuated 24 hr. after renal IR. Data are presented asmeans±SEM. *P<0.05 vs. sham group.

FIG. 4, comprising FIGS. 4A through 4D, is a set of graphs demonstratingthat renalase modulates ischemic AKI in mice. Plasma creatinine levelsfrom mice subjected to sham-surgery or to renal ischemia and reperfusion(IR). FIG. 4A: Renalase wild type (WT) or renalase deficient (KO) micewere subjected to 20 min. (moderate ischemia) or 30 min. (severeischemia) renal ischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion (N=4-6 per group).Renalase deficiency exacerbated renal IR injury in mice. FIG. 4B:Renalase WT mice were subjected to sham-surgery or to 30 min. renal IR.For mice subjected to renal IR, human recombinant renalase or vehicle(saline) was injected 10 min. prior to renal ischemia. Recombinant humanrenalase produced significant renal protection in renalase WT mice(N=4-6 per group). FIG. 4C: Pre- or post-ischemic human recombinantrenalase rescues renal function after IR in mice (N=4-6 per group).Human recombinant given 30 min. after completion of renal ischemiaprotected against IR injury. FIG. 4D: Phentolamine (5 mg/kg, a selectivealpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist) protected both renalase wild type(WT) and renalase deficient (KO) mice subjected to 30 min. renalischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion (N=4). *P<0.05 vs. vehicle-treated micesubjected to sham-surgery. ^(#)P<0.05 vs. vehicle-treated WT micesubjected to renal IR. Error bars represent 1 SEM.

FIG. 5, comprising FIGS. 5A and 5B, is a set of images and a graphdemonstrating that renalase modulates renal tubular necrosis after IR.FIG. 5A: Representative photomicrographs for hematoxylin and eosinstaining (magnification 200×) of kidney sections of renalase wild type(WT) or renalase deficient (KO) mice subjected to 20 min. or 30 min.renal ischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion. Some renalase WT mice werepretreated 1.5 mg/kg human recombinant renalase 10 min. before renalischemia. Photographs are representative of 3-5 independent experiments.FIG. 5B: Summary of Jablonski scale renal injury scores (N=4, gradedfrom hematoxylin and eosin staining, scale 0-4) for mice subjected torenal IR. It has been shown that renalase KO mice had worse renaltubular necrosis after IR and recombinant renalase provided significantrenal tubular protection against necrosis in renalase WT mice. *P<0.05vs. WT mice subjected to 20 min. renal IR. #P<0.05 vs. vehicle-treatedWT mice subjected to 30 min. renal IR. Error bars represent 1 SEM.

FIG. 6, comprising FIGS. 6A and 6B, is an image and a graph showing thatexogenous recombinant human renalase reduces renal tubular apoptosis inmice after IR. FIG. 6A: Representative photomicrographs for TUNELstaining (representing apoptotic nuclei, magnification 100×) of kidneysections of mice subjected to sham-operation or to 30 min. renalischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion. Mice were pretreated with salinevehicle or with 1.5 mg/kg human recombinant renalase 10 min. beforerenal ischemia. Photographs are representative of 4 independentexperiments. FIG. 6B: Quantifications of apoptotic cells per 100× fieldin the kidneys of mice after renal IR. *P<0.05 vs. vehicle-treated micesubjected to renal IR. Error bars represent 1 SEM. Recombinant renalasetreatment significantly decreased renal tubular apoptosis in mice afterrenal IR injury.

FIG. 7, comprising FIGS. 7A through 7D, is a set of images and graphsdemonstrating that exogenous recombinant human renalase reduces renalneutrophil infiltration in mice after IR. FIGS. 7A and 7C:Representative photomicrographs for immunohistochemistry for neutrophilinfiltration (magnification 200×) or macrophages (F4/80 staining,magnification 400×) of kidney sections of mice subjected tosham-operation or to 30 min. renal ischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion. Micewere pretreated with saline vehicle or with 1.5 mg/kg human recombinantrenalase 10 min. before renal ischemia. Photographs are representativeof 3-5 independent experiments. FIGS. 7B and 7D: Quantifications ofinfiltrated neutrophils (per 200× field) and macrophages (per 400×field) in the kidneys of mice after renal IR. *P<0.05 vs. sham-operatedgroup. #P<0.05 vs. vehicle-treated mice subjected to renal IR. Errorbars represent 1 SEM. Recombinant renalase treatment significantlyreduced renal neutrophil as well as macrophage infiltration in miceafter renal IR injury.

FIG. 8, comprising FIGS. 8A and 8B, is a set of images and graphsdemonstrating that renalase deficiency increases pro-inflammatory geneexpression in the kidney after IR. FIG. 8A: Representative gel images ofRT-PCR of GAPDH, TNF-α, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and MIP-2. FIG. 8B: Densitometricquantification of relative band intensities normalized to GAPDH ofpro-inflammatory markers TNF-α, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and MIP-2 from kidney ofmice subjected to renal IR (N=4-5 per group). Renalase deficient micehad significantly increased expression of TNF-α, MCP-1 and MIP-2 mRNAsexamined compared to the renalase WT mice subjected to renal IR. *P<0.05vs. Sham-operated mice. #P<0.05 vs. renalase WT mice subjected to renalIR. Error bars represent 1 SEM.

FIG. 9, is a set of graphs and images showing that three dayspost-treatment with cisplatin, plasma creatinine was significantlyhigher in renalase KO mice compared to WT (1.82 0.56 vs. 0.71 0.02mg/dl, n=6, P=0.021), as was the renal injury score (KO=56.62 7.38%,n=6, vs. WT=17.07 4.03, n=5; p<0.0002). The degree of apoptosis (2 foldincrease in TUNEL staining, p<0.005), and macrophage infiltration (35%increase in F4/80 staining, p<0.05). These data show that renalaseprotects against cisplatin AKI by decreasing pro-apoptotic, andincreasing pro-survival signals. Renalase could provide a usefultherapeutic option for cisplatin AKI.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing renalase peptide protects against ischemicAKI. Change in plasma creatinine at 24 hrs in WT mice subjected to 30min. of renal ischemia with and without pretreatment with indicatedrenalase peptides.

FIG. 11, comprising FIGS. 11A through 11D, is a set of images and graphsshowing renalase protects HK-2 cells against cisplatin toxicity,inhibits apoptosis and upregulates Bcl-2 expression. FIG. 11A: HK-2cells treated with cisplatin with and without renalase for 24 hrs,renalase expression measured by western blot; FIG. 11B: renalaseimproves cell survival as measured by WST-1; FIG. 11C: HK-2 cellstreated with cisplatin with and without renalase for 24 hrs, caspasemeasured by western blot, and quantified by densitometry (right panel);FIG. 11D: as in FIG. 11C, Bcl-2 measured by western.

FIG. 12, comprising FIGS. 12A through 12E, is a set of images and graphsshowing renalase upregulates Bcl-2, activates PI3K/AKT, ERK, p38, andinhibits JNK. Western blot analysis; P− indicates phosphorylated,activated proteins; signals normalized to GAPDH loading control, thenchanges in protein phosphorylation (increase=activation,decrease=inhibition) from time 0 are calculated. FIG. 12A: HK-2 andHUVEC cells incubated with renalase for 24 hrs; FIG. 12B: Western blotof time course of AKT and MAPK signaling by renalase, HK-2 cellsincubated with renalase for indicated time; changes over baseline in4c-d are significant (p<0.05); FIG. 12C: Activation of AKT(T308),AKT(5473) and ERK; FIG. 12D: Inhibition of JNK; FIG. 12E: Marked andsustained (60 min) upregulation of p38 by renalase in the presence ofcisplatin, western blot for time course, REN=renalase, CP=cisplatin.

FIG. 13 is a listing of renalase peptide amino acid sequences. Depictedare RP 224 (SEQ ID NO: 2), RP 220 (SEQ ID NO: 3), RP H220 (SEQ ID NO:4), RP A220 (SEQ ID NO: 5), RP 220 Scrambled (SEQ ID NO: 6), RP 128 (SEQID NO: 7), and RP 19 (SEQ ID NO: 8).

FIG. 14, comprising FIGS. 14A-14C, depicts the results of experimentsdemonstrating the hemodynamic effect of renalase peptides. A singleintravenous injection of RP-220 in anesthetized wild type mice; BPpressure is recorded continuously; RP-220 is given at time 0; each datapoint represents the average of systolic or diastolic BP valuescollected at the indicated time points in 6 animals; The Kruskal-Wallistest revealed statistical significance, and the Mann-Whitney test wasused for pairwise comparisons; *: Indicates P<0.05 (FIG. 14A). As in14A, except that RP-H220 is injected; no significant changes in bloodpressure (FIG. 14B). Effect of a single intravenous injection of RP-220(squares) and RP-H220 (diamonds) on heart rate in wild type mice (FIG.14C). RP H220, RP A220, RP 224, RP 220 scrambled, RP 128 and RP 19 hadno effect on BP.

FIG. 15 is a diagram depicts a working model of renalase. Renalase bindsto membrane receptor to activate cell signaling pathways which affectcell survival. Hemodynamic effect of recombinant renalase or RP 220 maybe mediated by the same receptor that activates cell signaling or by adifferent receptor.

FIG. 16 depicts the results of experiments demonstrating that acuterenal ischemia results in a decrease in kidney secretion of renalase,which can be detected as a decrease in renalase level in blood, serum,plasma and urine.

FIG. 17, comprising FIGS. 17A-17D, depicts the results of experimentsdemonstrating that renalase deficiency aggravates cisplatin AKI. Plasmacreatinine levels in WT and renalase KO mice 3 days post administrationof cisplatin; n=6, *: P<0.05 (FIG. 17A). Representative photomicrographsfor hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of kidney sections of WT micetreated with cisplatin. (FIG. 17B, left panel). Representativephotomicrograph of H&E staining of kidney from renalase KO mice treatedwith cisplatin (FIG. 17B, middle panel). Renal injury score, n=6, *:P<0.05 (FIG. 17B, right panel). Representative photomicrographs of TUNELstaining of kidney sections of WT mice treated with cisplatin; n=6 (FIG.17C, left panel). Representative photomicrograph of TUNEL staining ofkidney from renalase KO mice treated with cisplatin, n=6 (FIG. 17C,middle panel). Number of apoptotic nuclei per 40× field, n=6, *: P<0.05(FIG. 17C, right panel). Representative photomicrographs of macrophage(F4/80) staining of kidney sections of WT mice treated with cisplatin;n=5 (FIG. 17D, left panel). Representative photomicrograph of macrophage(F4/80) staining of kidney from renalase KO mice treated with cisplatin,n=5 (FIG. 17D, middle panel). Number of macrophages per 100× field; n=5,*: P<0.05 (FIG. 17D, right panel).

FIG. 18, comprising FIGS. 18A-18D, depicts the results of experimentsdemonstrating that recombinant renalase protects HK-2 cells againstoxidant and cisplatin mediated injury. HK-2 cell treated with 2 mM H₂O₂with and without renalase for indicated time; LDH: lactatedehydrogenase; n=8, *: P<0.05 for Control vs. renalase; #: P<0.05 forcontrol vs. H₂O₂ (FIG. 18A). HK-2 cells treated with 20 μM cisplatinwith and without renalase for 24 hrs (FIG. 18B). Cell survival measuredby the WST-1 method; n=6, *: P<0.05 (FIG. 18B, left panel). Renalaseexpression measured by western blot; representative blot shown, n=3(FIG. 18B, right panel). HK-2 cells treated with as in 18B (FIG. 18C);Caspase activation measured by western blot (FIG. 18C). Quantificationby densitometry, n=3; *: P<0.05 (FIG. 18C, right panel). HK-2 cellstreated as in 18B (FIG. 18D). Bcl-2 expression measured by western blot(FIG. 18D, left panel). Quantification by densitometry; n=3, *: P<0.05(FIG. 18D, right panel).

FIG. 19, comprising FIGS. 19A-19F, depicts the results of experimentsdemonstrating that renalase's protective effect is independent of itsenzymatic activity. Renalase isoforms Ren1-7; exons numbered from 1 to10; RP-224: renalase peptide amino acid 224-233 of Ren1 or Ren2; RP-220;amino acids 220-239; RP-H220: histidine tagged RP-220; RP-Scr220:scrambled RP-220 (FIG. 19A). CCL-119 cells in culture treated withanti-renalase monoclonal antibody for 24 hrs; cell survival measured bythe WST-1 method; n=3, *: P<0.05 (FIG. 19B). HK-2 cell treated with 2 mMH₂O₂ with and without renalase peptides for indicated time; LDH: lactatedehydrogenase; n=6, *: P<0.05 for Control vs. renalase peptide (FIG.19C). HK-2 cells treated with 20 μM cisplatin with and withoutrecombinant renalase and renalase peptides for 24 hrs, *: P<0.05,control vs. renalase peptide (FIG. 19D). Plasma creatinine levels frommice subjected to sham-surgery or to renal ischemia and reperfusion(IR); Renalase WT mice were subjected to sham-surgery or to 30 min renalIR. For mice subjected to renal IR, RP-H220 or vehicle (saline) wasinjected 10 min prior to renal ischemia. RP-H220 produced significantrenal protection in renalase WT mice (N=4-6 per group). *: P<0.05 vs.vehicle-treated mice subjected to sham-surgery; #: P<0.05 vs.vehicle-treated WT mice subjected to renal IR (FIG. 19E). Renalasepeptides do not oxidize NADH; recombinant Renalase or peptides in 25 mMTris, pH 7.5, 5 mM NaCl, and 150 μM NADH, at 37° C.; *: P<0.05 (FIG.19F).

FIG. 20, comprising FIGS. 20A-20C, depicts the results of experimentsdemonstrating that MAPK activation is critical for the protective effectof renalase peptides. MAPK signaling by renalase and renalase peptides.Western blot analysis; ERK: Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase 1 and2; JNK: c-Jun N-terminal Kinases; AKT: protein kinase B; p-indicatesphosphorylated, activated proteins; representative blot, n=3 (FIG. 20A).Renalase activates AKT (FIG. 20B). Western blot analysis; P− indicatesphosphorylated, activated proteins Representative blot, n=3 (FIG. 20B,left panel). Signals normalized to GAPDH loading control; n=3, changeover baseline statistically significant (P<0.05) from 1-60 min for ERK,p38 and AKT (T308), and at 30 min only for AKT (S473) (FIG. 20B, rightpanel). ERK or AKT inhibition abrogates protective effect of RP-H220(FIG. 20C). Plasma creatinine levels from mice subjected to sham-surgeryor to renal ischemia and reperfusion (IR); Renalase WT mice weresubjected to sham-surgery or to 30 min renal IR. For mice subjected torenal IR, RP-H220 or vehicle (saline) was injected 10 min prior to renalischemia. Some animals were pretreated with either the ERK inhibitorPD98059 or the PI3K/AKT inhibitor wortmanin. (N=6-8 per group). *:P<0.05 vs. vehicle-treated mice subjected to sham-surgery; #: P<0.05 vs.vehicle-treated WT mice subjected to renal IR (FIG. 20C).

FIG. 21 depicts the results of experiments examining the effect ofRP-220 injection on blood pressure. A single subcutaneous injection ofRP-220 (n=3) or buffer (n=2) in anesthetized wild type mice; BP pressureis recorded continuously; RP-220 is given at time 0; each data pointrepresents the mean pressure; the standard error of the means are shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to the discovery that renalase, andfragments thereof, are useful for the treatment or prevention ofdiseases or disorders, such as cardiac and renal diseases or disorders.Thus, the invention relates to compositions comprising renalase, orfragments thereof, and methods for treating and preventing diseases anddisorders, including cardiac and renal disease or disorders. In someembodiments, the renal injury treated or prevented using thecompositions and methods of the invention is AKI caused byischemia/reperfusion (IR).

In one embodiment, the renalase of the invention is a polypeptidecomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9. In anotherembodiment, the renalase of the invention is a polypeptide comprisingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10. In some embodiments, therenalase of the invention is a renalase fragment comprising at least aportion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ ID NO: 10. Insome embodiments, the renalase fragment is a peptide that retains itsAKI protective activity, but does not exhibit detectable NADH oxidaseactivity. In some embodiments, the renalase fragment is a peptide thatretains its protective activity, but does not exhibit detectable amineoxidase activity. In a particular embodiment, the renalase fragment is apeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. In anotherparticular embodiment, the renalase fragment is a peptide comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In another particular embodiment,the renalase fragment is a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 4.

The compositions and methods of the invention comprise recombinantrenalase, or fragments thereof. The compositions and methods of theinvention include compositions and methods for treating or preventingmyocardial necrosis, heart failure, congestive heart failure, cardiacischemic injury, cardiac reperfusion injury, cardiacischemic-reperfusion injury, toxic cardiac injury, renal ischemicinjury, renal reperfusion injury, renal ischemic-reperfusion injury,toxic renal injury, renal tubular necrosis, renal tubular inflammation,renal tubular apoptosis, ischemic brain injury, reperfusion braininjury, ischemic-reperfusion brain injury, toxic brain injury, ischemicliver injury, reperfusion liver injury, ischemic-reperfusion liverinjury, toxic liver injury, and hypertension. In some embodiments, thecompositions and methods of the invention are useful for controlling ormaintaining blood pressure. In some embodiments, the compositions andmethods of the invention are useful for treating or preventingsympathetic nervous system diseases and disorders, such as, by way of anon-limiting examples, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of diagnosing a renaldisease or disorder of a subject by assessing the level of renalase in abiological sample of the subject. In one embodiment, a change (i.e.,increase or decrease) in the level of renalase compared with acomparator is a marker for the diagnosis of a renal disease or disorder,or a cardiac disease or disorder, as well as for monitoring thetreatment of a renal or cardiac disease or disorder.

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the invention pertains. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice for testing of the present invention, the preferredmaterials and methods are described herein. In describing and claimingthe present invention, the following terminology will be used.

It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto be limiting.

The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to morethan one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of thearticle. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more thanone element.

“About” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as anamount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompassnon-limiting variations of ±40% or ±20% or ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, or ±0.1% fromthe specified value, as such variations are appropriate.

The term “abnormal” when used in the context of organisms, tissues,cells or components thereof, refers to those organisms, tissues, cellsor components thereof that differ in at least one observable ordetectable characteristic (e.g., age, treatment, time of day, etc.) fromthose organisms, tissues, cells or components thereof that display the“normal” (expected) respective characteristic. Characteristics which arenormal or expected for one cell or tissue type, might be abnormal for adifferent cell or tissue type.

As used herein, to “alleviate” or “treat” a disease means reducing thefrequency or severity of at least one sign or symptom of a disease ordisorder.

As used herein the terms “alteration,” “defect,” “variation,” or“mutation,” refers to a mutation in a gene in a cell that affects thefunction, activity, expression (transcription or translation) orconformation of the polypeptide that it encodes. Mutations encompassedby the present invention can be any mutation of a gene in a cell thatresults in the enhancement or disruption of the function, activity,expression or conformation of the encoded polypeptide, including thecomplete absence of expression of the encoded protein and can include,for example, missense and nonsense mutations, insertions, deletions,frameshifts and premature terminations. Without being so limited,mutations encompassed by the present invention may alter splicing themRNA (splice site mutation) or cause a shift in the reading frame(frameshift).

The term “antibody,” as used herein, refers to an immunoglobulinmolecule which is able to specifically bind to a specific epitope on anantigen. Antibodies can be intact immunoglobulins derived from naturalsources or from recombinant sources and can be immunoreactive portionsof intact immunoglobulins. The antibodies in the present invention mayexist in a variety of forms including, for example, polyclonalantibodies, monoclonal antibodies, intracellular antibodies(“intrabodies”), Fv, Fab and F(ab)2, as well as single chain antibodies(scFv), heavy chain antibodies, such as camelid antibodies, syntheticantibodies, chimeric antibodies, and a humanized antibodies (Harlow etal., 1999, Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory Press, NY; Harlow et al., 1989, Antibodies: A LaboratoryManual, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Houston et al., 1988, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883; Bird et al., 1988, Science 242:423-426).

An “antibody heavy chain,” as used herein, refers to the larger of thetwo types of polypeptide chains present in all antibody molecules intheir naturally occurring conformations.

An “antibody light chain,” as used herein, refers to the smaller of thetwo types of polypeptide chains present in all antibody molecules intheir naturally occurring conformations. κ and λ light chains refer tothe two major antibody light chain isotypes.

By the term “synthetic antibody” as used herein, is meant an antibodywhich is generated using recombinant DNA technology, such as, forexample, an antibody expressed by a bacteriophage as described herein.The term should also be construed to mean an antibody which has beengenerated by the synthesis of a DNA molecule encoding the antibody andwhich DNA molecule expresses an antibody protein, or an amino acidsequence specifying the antibody, wherein the DNA or amino acid sequencehas been obtained using synthetic DNA or amino acid sequence technologywhich is available and well known in the art.

As used herein, an “immunoassay” refers to any binding assay that usesan antibody capable of binding specifically to a target molecule todetect and quantify the target molecule.

By the term “specifically binds,” as used herein with respect to anantibody, is meant an antibody which recognizes a specific antigen, butdoes not substantially recognize or bind other molecules in a sample.For example, an antibody that specifically binds to an antigen from onespecies may also bind to that antigen from one or more species. But,such cross-species reactivity does not itself alter the classificationof an antibody as specific. In another example, an antibody thatspecifically binds to an antigen may also bind to different allelicforms of the antigen. However, such cross reactivity does not itselfalter the classification of an antibody as specific. In some instances,the terms “specific binding” or “specifically binding,” can be used inreference to the interaction of an antibody, a protein, or a peptidewith a second chemical species, to mean that the interaction isdependent upon the presence of a particular structure (e.g., anantigenic determinant or epitope) on the chemical species; for example,an antibody recognizes and binds to a specific protein structure ratherthan to proteins generally. If an antibody is specific for epitope “A”,the presence of a molecule containing epitope A (or free, unlabeled A),in a reaction containing labeled “A” and the antibody, will reduce theamount of labeled A bound to the antibody.

By the term “applicator,” as the term is used herein, is meant anydevice including, but not limited to, a hypodermic syringe, a pipette,an iontophoresis device, a patch, and the like, for administering thecompositions of the invention to a subject.

As used herein, the term “marker” or “biomarker” is meant to include aparameter which is useful according to this invention for determining,for example, the presence and/or severity of a cardiac or renal diseaseor disorder. By way of a non-limiting example, a “marker” or “biomarker”is the level and/or activity of renalase.

The level of a marker or biomarker “significantly” differs from thelevel of the marker or biomarker in a reference sample if the level ofthe marker in a sample from the patient differs from the level in asample from the reference subject by an amount greater than the standarderror of the assay employed to assess the marker, and preferably atleast 10%, and more preferably 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%.

“Cancer,” as used herein, refers to the abnormal growth or division ofcells. Generally, the growth and/or life span of a cancer cell exceeds,and is not coordinated with, that of the normal cells and tissues aroundit. Cancers may be benign, pre-malignant or malignant. Cancer occurs ina variety of cells and tissues, including the oral cavity (e.g., mouth,tongue, pharynx, etc.), digestive system (e.g., esophagus, stomach,small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, bile duct, gall bladder,pancreas, etc.), respiratory system (e.g., larynx, lung, bronchus,etc.), bones, joints, skin (e.g., basal cell, squamous cell, meningioma,etc.), breast, genital system, (e.g., uterus, ovary, prostate, testis,etc.), urinary system (e.g., bladder, kidney, ureter, etc.), eye,nervous system (e.g., brain, etc.), endocrine system (e.g., thyroid,etc.), and hematopoietic system (e.g., lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia,acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloidleukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, etc.).

The term “coding sequence,” as used herein, means a sequence of anucleic acid or its complement, or a part thereof, that can betranscribed and/or translated to produce the mRNA and/or the polypeptideor a fragment thereof. Coding sequences include exons in a genomic DNAor immature primary RNA transcripts, which are joined together by thecell's biochemical machinery to provide a mature mRNA. The anti-sensestrand is the complement of such a nucleic acid, and the coding sequencecan be deduced therefrom. In contrast, the term “non-coding sequence,”as used herein, means a sequence of a nucleic acid or its complement, ora part thereof, that is not translated into amino acid in vivo, or wheretRNA does not interact to place or attempt to place an amino acid.Non-coding sequences include both intron sequences in genomic DNA orimmature primary RNA transcripts, and gene-associated sequences such aspromoters, enhancers, silencers, and the like.

As used herein, the terms “complementary” or “complementarity” are usedin reference to polynucleotides (i.e., a sequence of nucleotides)related by the base-pairing rules. For example, the sequence “A-G-T,” iscomplementary to the sequence “T-C-A.” Complementarity may be “partial,”in which only some of the nucleic acids' bases are matched according tothe base pairing rules. Or, there may be “complete” or “total”complementarity between the nucleic acids. The degree of complementaritybetween nucleic acid strands has significant effects on the efficiencyand strength of hybridization between nucleic acid strands. This is ofparticular importance in amplification reactions, as well as detectionmethods that depend upon binding between nucleic acids.

A “disease” is a state of health of an animal wherein the animal cannotmaintain homeostasis, and wherein if the disease is not ameliorated thenthe animal's health continues to deteriorate. In contrast, a “disorder”in an animal is a state of health in which the animal is able tomaintain homeostasis, but in which the animal's state of health is lessfavorable than it would be in the absence of the disorder. Leftuntreated, a disorder does not necessarily cause a further decrease inthe animal's state of health.

An “effective amount” as used herein, means an amount which provides atherapeutic or prophylactic benefit.

“Encoding” refers to the inherent property of specific sequences ofnucleotides in a polynucleotide, such as a gene, a cDNA, or an mRNA, toserve as templates for synthesis of other polymers and macromolecules inbiological processes having either a defined sequence of nucleotides(i.e., rRNA, tRNA and mRNA) or a defined sequence of amino acids and thebiological properties resulting therefrom. Thus, a gene encodes aprotein if transcription and translation of mRNA corresponding to thatgene produces the protein in a cell or other biological system. Both thecoding strand, the nucleotide sequence of which is identical to the mRNAsequence and is usually provided in sequence listings, and thenon-coding strand, used as the template for transcription of a gene orcDNA, can be referred to as encoding the protein or other product ofthat gene or cDNA.

As used herein, the term “fragment,” as applied to a nucleic acid,refers to a subsequence of a larger nucleic acid. A “fragment” of anucleic acid can be at least about 15 nucleotides in length; forexample, at least about 50 nucleotides to about 100 nucleotides; atleast about 100 to about 500 nucleotides, at least about 500 to about1000 nucleotides; at least about 1000 nucleotides to about 1500nucleotides; about 1500 nucleotides to about 2500 nucleotides; or about2500 nucleotides (and any integer value in between). As used herein, theterm “fragment,” as applied to a protein, polypeptide or peptide, refersto a subsequence of a larger protein or peptide. A “fragment” of aprotein, polypeptide, or peptide can be at least about 5 amino acids inlength; for example, at least about 10 amino acids in length; at leastabout 20 amino acids in length; at least about 50 amino acids in length;at least about 100 amino acids in length; at least about 200 amino acidsin length; or at least about 300 amino acids in length (and any integervalue in between).

The term “gene” refers to a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) sequence thatincludes coding sequences necessary for the production of a polypeptide,precursor, or RNA (e.g., mRNA). The polypeptide may be encoded by a fulllength coding sequence or by any portion of the coding sequence so longas the desired activity or functional property (e.g., enzymaticactivity, ligand binding, signal transduction, immunogenicity, etc.) ofthe full-length or fragment is retained. The term also encompasses thecoding region of a structural gene and the sequences located adjacent tothe coding region on both the 5′ and 3′ ends for a distance of about 2kb or more on either end such that the gene corresponds to the length ofthe full-length mRNA and 5′ regulatory sequences which influence thetranscriptional properties of the gene. Sequences located 5′ of thecoding region and present on the mRNA are referred to as 5′-untranslatedsequences. The 5′-untranslated sequences usually contain the regulatorysequences. Sequences located 3′ or downstream of the coding region andpresent on the mRNA are referred to as 3′-untranslated sequences. Theterm “gene” encompasses both cDNA and genomic forms of a gene. A genomicform or clone of a gene contains the coding region interrupted withnon-coding sequences termed “introns” or “intervening regions” or“intervening sequences.” Introns are segments of a gene that aretranscribed into nuclear RNA (hnRNA); introns may contain regulatoryelements such as enhancers. Introns are removed or “spliced out” fromthe nuclear or primary transcript; introns therefore are absent in themessenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. The mRNA functions during translationto specify the sequence or order of amino acids in a nascentpolypeptide.

“Homologous” refers to the sequence similarity or sequence identitybetween two polypeptides or between two nucleic acid molecules. When aposition in both of the two compared sequences is occupied by the samebase or amino acid monomer subunit, e.g., if a position in each of twoDNA molecules is occupied by adenine, then the molecules are homologousat that position. The percent of homology between two sequences is afunction of the number of matching or homologous positions shared by thetwo sequences divided by the number of positions compared×100. Forexample, if 6 of 10 of the positions in two sequences are matched orhomologous then the two sequences are 60% homologous. By way of example,the DNA sequences ATTGCC and TATGGC share 50% homology. Generally, acomparison is made when two sequences are aligned to give maximumhomology.

“Instructional material,” as that term is used herein, includes apublication, a recording, a diagram, or any other medium of expressionwhich can be used to communicate the usefulness of the nucleic acid,peptide, polypeptide, and/or compound of the invention in the kit foridentifying or alleviating or treating the various diseases or disordersrecited herein. Optionally, or alternately, the instructional materialmay describe one or more methods of identifying or alleviating thediseases or disorders in a cell or a tissue of a subject. Theinstructional material of the kit may, for example, be affixed to acontainer that contains the nucleic acid, polypeptide, and/or compoundof the invention or be shipped together with a container that containsthe nucleic acid, polypeptide, and/or compound. Alternatively, theinstructional material may be shipped separately from the container withthe intention that the recipient uses the instructional material and thecompound cooperatively.

“Isolated” means altered or removed from the natural state. For example,a nucleic acid or a polypeptide naturally present in a living animal isnot “isolated,” but the same nucleic acid or polypeptide partially orcompletely separated from the coexisting materials of its natural stateis “isolated.” An isolated nucleic acid or protein can exist insubstantially purified form, or can exist in a non-native environmentsuch as, for example, a host cell.

An “isolated nucleic acid” refers to a nucleic acid segment or fragmentwhich has been separated from sequences which flank it in a naturallyoccurring state, e.g., a DNA fragment which has been removed from thesequences which are normally adjacent to the fragment, e.g., thesequences adjacent to the fragment in a genome in which it naturallyoccurs. The term also applies to nucleic acids which have beensubstantially purified from other components which naturally accompanythe nucleic acid, e.g., RNA or DNA or proteins, which naturallyaccompany it in the cell. The term therefore includes, for example, arecombinant DNA which is incorporated into a vector, into anautonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of aprokaryote or eukaryote, or which exists as a separate molecule (e.g.,as a cDNA or a genomic or cDNA fragment produced by PCR or restrictionenzyme digestion) independent of other sequences. It also includes arecombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additionalpolypeptide sequence.

The term “label” when used herein refers to a detectable compound orcomposition that is conjugated directly or indirectly to a probe togenerate a “labeled” probe. The label may be detectable by itself (e.g.,radioisotope labels or fluorescent labels) or, in the case of anenzymatic label, may catalyze chemical alteration of a substratecompound or composition that is detectable (e.g., avidin-biotin). Insome instances, primers can be labeled to detect a PCR product.

By the term “modulating,” as used herein, is meant mediating adetectable increase or decrease in the activity and/or level of a mRNA,polypeptide, or a response in a subject compared with the activityand/or level of a mRNA, polypeptide or a response in the subject in theabsence of a treatment or compound, and/or compared with the activityand/or level of a mRNA, polypeptide, or a response in an otherwiseidentical but untreated subject. The term encompasses activating,inhibiting and/or otherwise affecting a native signal or responsethereby mediating a beneficial therapeutic response in a subject,preferably, a human.

A “mutation,” as used herein, refers to a change in nucleic acid orpolypeptide sequence relative to a reference sequence (which ispreferably a naturally-occurring normal or “wild-type” sequence), andincludes translocations, deletions, insertions, and substitutions/pointmutations. A “mutant” as used herein, refers to either a nucleic acid orprotein comprising a mutation.

A “nucleic acid” refers to a polynucleotide and includespoly-ribonucleotides and poly-deoxyribonucleotides. Nucleic acidsaccording to the present invention may include any polymer or oligomerof pyrimidine and purine bases, preferably cytosine, thymine, anduracil, and adenine and guanine, respectively. (See Albert L. Lehninger,Principles of Biochemistry, at 793-800 (Worth Pub. 1982) which is hereinincorporated in its entirety for all purposes). Indeed, the presentinvention contemplates any deoxyribonucleotide, ribonucleotide orpeptide nucleic acid component, and any chemical variants thereof, suchas methylated, hydroxymethylated or glucosylated forms of these bases,and the like. The polymers or oligomers may be heterogeneous orhomogeneous in composition, and may be isolated from naturally occurringsources or may be artificially or synthetically produced. In addition,the nucleic acids may be DNA or RNA, or a mixture thereof, and may existpermanently or transitionally in single-stranded or double-strandedform, including homoduplex, heteroduplex, and hybrid states.

An “oligonucleotide” or “polynucleotide” is a nucleic acid ranging fromat least 2, preferably at least 8, 15 or 25 nucleotides in length, butmay be up to 50, 100, 1000, or 5000 nucleotides long or a compound thatspecifically hybridizes to a polynucleotide. Polynucleotides includesequences of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) ormimetics thereof which may be isolated from natural sources,recombinantly produced or artificially synthesized. A further example ofa polynucleotide of the present invention may be a peptide nucleic acid(PNA). (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,501 which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.) The invention also encompasses situations inwhich there is a nontraditional base pairing such as Hoogsteen basepairing which has been identified in certain tRNA molecules andpostulated to exist in a triple helix. “Polynucleotide” and“oligonucleotide” are used interchangeably in this disclosure. It willbe understood that when a nucleotide sequence is represented herein by aDNA sequence (e.g., A, T, G, and C), this also includes thecorresponding RNA sequence (e.g., A, U, G, C) in which “U” replaces “T”.

The terms “patient,” “subject,” “individual,” and the like are usedinterchangeably herein, and refer to any animal, or cells thereofwhether in vitro or in situ, amenable to the methods described herein.In certain non-limiting embodiments, the patient, subject or individualis a human.

As used herein, the term “polymerase chain reaction” (“PCR”) refers tothe method of K. B. Mullis (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 4,683,202, and4,965,188, hereby incorporated by reference) for increasing theconcentration of a segment of a target sequence in a mixture of genomicDNA without cloning or purification. This process for amplifying thetarget sequence consists of introducing a large excess of twooligonucleotide primers to the DNA mixture containing the desired targetsequence, followed by a precise sequence of thermal cycling in thepresence of a DNA polymerase. The two primers are complementary to theirrespective strands of the double stranded target sequence. To effectamplification, the mixture is denatured and the primers then annealed totheir complementary sequences within the target molecule. Followingannealing, the primers are extended with a polymerase so as to form anew pair of complementary strands. The steps of denaturation, primerannealing and polymerase extension can be repeated many times (i.e.,denaturation, annealing and extension constitute one “cycle”; there canbe numerous “cycles”) to obtain a high concentration of an amplifiedsegment of the desired target sequence. The length of the amplifiedsegment of the desired target sequence is determined by the relativepositions of the primers with respect to each other, and therefore, thislength is a controllable parameter. By virtue of the repeating aspect ofthe process, the method is referred to as the “polymerase chainreaction” (hereinafter “PCR”). Because the desired amplified segments ofthe target sequence become the predominant sequences (in terms ofconcentration) in the mixture, they are said to be “PCR amplified”. Asused herein, the terms “PCR product,” “PCR fragment,” “amplificationproduct” or “amplicon” refer to the resultant mixture of compounds aftertwo or more cycles of the PCR steps of denaturation, annealing andextension are complete. These terms encompass the case where there hasbeen amplification of one or more segments of one or more targetsequences.

As used herein, the term “probe” refers to an oligonucleotide (i.e., asequence of nucleotides), whether occurring naturally as in a purifiedrestriction digest or produced synthetically, recombinantly or by PCRamplification, that is capable of hybridizing to another oligonucleotideof interest. A probe may be single-stranded or double-stranded. Probesare useful in the detection, identification and isolation of particulargene sequences.

As used herein, the terms “peptide,” “polypeptide,” and “protein” areused interchangeably, and refer to a compound comprised of amino acidresidues covalently linked by peptide bonds. A protein or peptide mustcontain at least two amino acids, and no limitation is placed on themaximum number of amino acids that can comprise a protein's or peptide'ssequence. Polypeptides include any peptide or protein comprising two ormore amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds. As used herein,the term refers to both short chains, which also commonly are referredto in the art as peptides, oligopeptides and oligomers, for example, andto longer chains, which generally are referred to in the art asproteins, of which there are many types. “Polypeptides” include, forexample, biologically active fragments, substantially homologouspolypeptides, oligopeptides, homodimers, heterodimers, variants ofpolypeptides, modified polypeptides, derivatives, analogs, fusionproteins, among others. The polypeptides include natural peptides,recombinant peptides, synthetic peptides, or a combination thereof.

As used herein, “polynucleotide” includes cDNA, RNA, DNA/RNA hybrid,antisense RNA, ribozyme, genomic DNA, synthetic forms, and mixedpolymers, both sense and antisense strands, and may be chemically orbiochemically modified to contain non-natural or derivatized, synthetic,or semi-synthetic nucleotide bases. Also, contemplated are alterationsof a wild type or synthetic gene, including but not limited to deletion,insertion, substitution of one or more nucleotides, or fusion to otherpolynucleotide sequences.

To “prevent” a disease or disorder as the term is used herein, means toreduce the severity or frequency of at least one sign or symptom of adisease or disorder being experienced by a subject.

“Sample” or “biological sample” as used herein means a biologicalmaterial isolated from a subject. The biological sample may contain anybiological material suitable for detecting a mRNA, polypeptide or othermarker of a physiologic or pathologic process in a subject, and maycomprise fluid, tissue, cellular and/or non-cellular material obtainedfrom the individual.

As used herein, “substantially purified” refers to being essentiallyfree of other components. For example, a substantially purifiedpolypeptide is a polypeptide which has been separated from othercomponents with which it is normally associated in its naturallyoccurring state.

As used herein, the terms “therapy” or “therapeutic regimen” refer tothose activities taken to prevent, alleviate or alter a disorder ordisease state, e.g., a course of treatment intended to reduce oreliminate at least one sign or symptom of a disease or disorder usingpharmacological, surgical, dietary and/or other techniques. Atherapeutic regimen may include a prescribed dosage of one or morecompounds or surgery. Therapies will most often be beneficial and reduceor eliminate at least one sign or symptom of the disorder or diseasestate, but in some instances the effect of a therapy will havenon-desirable or side-effects. The effect of therapy will also beimpacted by the physiological state of the subject, e.g., age, gender,genetics, weight, other disease conditions, etc.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” refers to the amount of thesubject compound that will elicit the biological or medical response ofa tissue, system, or subject that is being sought by the researcher,veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician. The term“therapeutically effective amount” includes that amount of a compoundthat, when administered, is sufficient to prevent development of, oralleviate to some extent, one or more of the signs or symptoms of thedisorder or disease being treated. The therapeutically effective amountwill vary depending on the compound, the disease and its severity andthe age, weight, etc., of the subject to be treated.

To “treat” a disease or disorder as the term is used herein, means toreduce the frequency or severity of at least one sign or symptom of adisease or disorder experienced by a subject.

As used herein, the term “wild-type” refers to a gene or gene productisolated from a naturally occurring source. A wild-type gene is thatwhich is most frequently observed in a population and is thusarbitrarily designed the “normal” or “wild-type” form of the gene. Incontrast, the term “modified” or “mutant” refers to a gene or geneproduct that displays modifications in sequence and/or functionalproperties (i.e., altered characteristics) when compared to thewild-type gene or gene product. It is noted that naturally occurringmutants can be isolated; these are identified by the fact that they havealtered characteristics (including altered nucleic acid sequences) whencompared to the wild-type gene or gene product.

Ranges: throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention canbe presented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numberswithin that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, and 6. Thisapplies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Description

In some embodiments, the compositions and methods of the inventioncomprise renalase, or a fragment thereof, for use in the treatment orprevention of a cardiac or renal disease or disorder. In someembodiments, the renalase of the invention is a polypeptide comprisingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ ID NO: 10. In someembodiments, the renalase of the invention is a renalase fragmentcomprising at least a portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9or SEQ ID NO: 10. In some embodiments, the renalase fragment is apeptide that retains its protective activity, but does not exhibitdetectable NADH oxidase activity. In some embodiments, the renalasefragment is a peptide that retains its protective activity, but does notexhibit detectable amine oxidase activity. In a particular embodiment,the renalase fragment is a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2. In another particular embodiment, the renalase fragment isa peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In anotherparticular embodiment, the renalase fragment is a peptide comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. In another particular embodiment,the renalase fragment is a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 2. In another particular embodiment, the renalase fragmentis a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. Inanother particular embodiment, the renalase fragment is a peptideconsisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

The compositions and methods of the invention comprise recombinantrenalase, or fragments thereof. The compositions and methods of theinvention include compositions and methods for treating or preventingdisorders and diseases where an increased activity or level of renalaseis desirable. In various embodiments, the disorders and diseases wherean increased activity or level of renalase is desirable which can betreated or prevented with the compositions and methods of the inventioninclude AKI, myocardial necrosis, heart failure, congestive heartfailure, cardiac ischemic injury, cardiac reperfusion injury, cardiacischemic-reperfusion injury, toxic cardiac injury, renal ischemicinjury, renal reperfusion injury, renal ischemic-reperfusion injury,toxic renal injury, renal tubular necrosis, renal tubular inflammation,renal tubular apoptosis, ischemic brain injury, reperfusion braininjury, ischemic-reperfusion brain injury, toxic brain injury, ischemicliver injury, reperfusion liver injury, ischemic-reperfusion liverinjury, toxic liver injury, and hypertension. In some embodiments, thecompositions and methods of the invention are useful for controlling ormaintaining blood pressure. In some embodiments, the compositions andmethods of the invention are useful for treating or preventingsympathetic nervous system diseases and disorders, such as, by way of anon-limiting examples, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of diagnosing a renaldisease or disorder of a subject by assessing the level of renalase in abiological sample of the subject. In one embodiment, a change (i.e.,increase or decrease) in the level of renalase compared with acomparator is a marker for the diagnosis of a renal disease or disorder,or a cardiac disease or disorder, as well as for monitoring thetreatment of a renal or cardiac disease or disorder.

Compositions and Methods of Treatment and Prevention

In various embodiments, the present invention includes renalaseactivator compositions and methods of increasing the level or activityof renalase, or a fragment thereof, in a subject, a tissue, or an organin need thereof. In various embodiments, the renalase activatorcompositions and methods of treatment of the invention increase theamount of renalase polypeptide, the amount of renalase mRNA, the amountof renalase enzymatic activity, the amount of renalase substrate bindingactivity, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the diseasesand disorders where in increase in renalase may improve therapeuticoutcome include, but are not limited to, AKI, myocardial necrosis, heartfailure, congestive heart failure, cardiac ischemic injury, cardiacreperfusion injury, cardiac ischemic-reperfusion injury, toxic cardiacinjury, renal ischemic injury, renal reperfusion injury, renalischemic-reperfusion injury, toxic renal injury, renal tubular necrosis,renal tubular inflammation, renal tubular apoptosis, ischemic braininjury, reperfusion brain injury, ischemic-reperfusion brain injury,toxic brain injury, ischemic liver injury, reperfusion liver injury,ischemic-reperfusion liver injury, toxic liver injury, and hypertension.In some embodiments, the compositions and methods of the invention areuseful for controlling or maintaining blood pressure. In someembodiments, the compositions and methods of the invention are usefulfor treating or preventing sympathetic nervous system diseases anddisorders, such as, by way of a non-limiting examples, anxiety,post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention deficithyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

It will be understood by one skilled in the art, based upon thedisclosure provided herein, that an increase in the level of renalaseencompasses the increase in renalase expression, includingtranscription, translation, or both. The skilled artisan will alsoappreciate, once armed with the teachings of the present invention, thatan increase in the level of renalase includes an increase in renalaseactivity (e.g., enzymatic activity, substrate binding activity, etc.).Thus, increasing the level or activity of renalase includes, but is notlimited to, increasing the amount of renalase polypeptide, andincreasing transcription, translation, or both, of a nucleic acidencoding renalase; and it also includes increasing any activity of arenalase polypeptide as well. The renalase activator compositions andmethods of the invention can selectively activate renalase, or canactivate both renalase and another molecule.

Thus, the present invention relates to the prevention and treatment of adisease or disorder by administration of a therapeutically effectiveamount of a renalase polypeptide, a recombinant renalase polypeptide, anactive renalase polypeptide fragment (i.e., renalase peptide), or anactivator of renalase expression or activity, to a subject in needthereof, for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder, orits associated signs, symptoms or pathologies. In some embodiments, therenalase polypeptide comprises the amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ IDNO: 10. In some embodiments, the renalase of the invention is a renalasepolypeptide fragment comprising at least a portion of the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ ID NO: 10. In some embodiments, therenalase polypeptide fragment is a peptide that retains its protectiveactivity, but does not exhibit detectable NADH oxidase activity. In someembodiments, the renalase polypeptide fragment is a peptide that retainsits protective activity, but does not exhibit detectable amine oxidaseactivity. In a particular embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragmentis a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Inanother particular embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragment is apeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In anotherparticular embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragment is a peptidecomprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. In anotherparticular embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragment is a peptideconsisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. In anotherparticular embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragment is a peptideconsisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In anotherparticular embodiment, the renalase polypeptide fragment is a peptideconsisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

It is understood by one skilled in the art, that an increase in thelevel of renalase encompasses an increase in the amount of renalase, orfragment thereof (e.g., by administration of renalase or a fragmentthereof, by increasing renalase protein expression, etc.). Additionally,the skilled artisan would appreciate, that an increase in the level ofrenalase includes an increase in renalase activity. Thus, increasing thelevel or activity of renalase includes, but is not limited to, theadministration of renalase or a fragment thereof, as well as increasingtranscription, translation, or both, of a nucleic acid encodingrenalase; and it also includes increasing any activity of renalase aswell.

The increased level or activity of renalase can be assessed using a widevariety of methods, including those disclosed herein, as well as methodswell-known in the art or to be developed in the future. That is, theroutineer would appreciate, based upon the disclosure provided herein,that increasing the level or activity of renalase can be readilyassessed using methods that assess the level of a nucleic acid encodingrenalase (e.g., mRNA), the level of renalase polypeptide, and/or thelevel of renalase activity in a biological sample obtained from asubject.

One skilled in the art, based upon the disclosure provided herein, wouldunderstand that the invention is useful in subjects who, in whole (e.g.,systemically) or in part (e.g., locally, tissue, organ), are being orwill be, treated for a disease or disorder associated with a diminishedlevel or activity of renalase. The skilled artisan will appreciate,based upon the teachings provided herein, that the diseases anddisorders treatable by the compositions and methods described hereinencompass any disease or disorder where in an increase in renalase willpromote a positive therapeutic outcome.

One of skill in the art will realize that in addition to activatingrenalase directly, diminishing the amount or activity of a molecule thatitself diminishes the amount or activity of renalase can serve toincrease the amount or activity of renalase. Thus, a renalase activatorcan include, but should not be construed as being limited to, a chemicalcompound, a protein, a peptidomemetic, an antibody, a ribozyme, and anantisense nucleic acid molecule. One of skill in the art would readilyappreciate, based on the disclosure provided herein, that a renalaseactivator encompasses a chemical compound that increases the level,enzymatic activity, or substrate binding activity of renalase.Additionally, a renalase activator encompasses a chemically modifiedcompound, and derivatives, as is well known to one of skill in thechemical arts.

It will be understood by one skilled in the art, based upon thedisclosure provided herein, that an increase in the level of renalaseencompasses the increase in renalase expression, includingtranscription, translation, or both. The skilled artisan will alsoappreciate, once armed with the teachings of the present invention, thatan increase in the level of renalase includes an increase in renalaseactivity (e.g., enzymatic activity, substrate binding activity, etc.).Thus, increasing the level or activity of renalase includes, but is notlimited to, increasing the amount of renalase polypeptide, increasingtranscription, translation, or both, of a nucleic acid encodingrenalase; and it also includes increasing any activity of a renalasepolypeptide as well. The renalase activator compositions and methods ofthe invention can selectively activate renalase, or can activate bothrenalase and another molecule. Thus, the present invention relates toadministration of a renalase polypeptide, a recombinant renalasepolypeptide, an active renalase polypeptide fragment, or an activator ofrenalase expression or activity.

Further, one of skill in the art would, when equipped with thisdisclosure and the methods exemplified herein, appreciate that arenalase activator includes such activators as discovered in the future,as can be identified by well-known criteria in the art of pharmacology,such as the physiological results of activation of renalase as describedin detail herein and/or as known in the art. Therefore, the presentinvention is not limited in any way to any particular renalase activatoras exemplified or disclosed herein; rather, the invention encompassesthose activators that would be understood by the routineer to be usefulas are known in the art and as are discovered in the future.

Further methods of identifying and producing a renalase activator arewell known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including, but notlimited, obtaining an activator from a naturally occurring source (e.g.,Streptomyces sp., Pseudomonas sp., Stylotella aurantium, etc.).Alternatively, a renalase activator can be synthesized chemically.Further, the routineer would appreciate, based upon the teachingsprovided herein, that a renalase activator can be obtained from arecombinant organism. Compositions and methods for chemicallysynthesizing renalase activators and for obtaining them from naturalsources are well known in the art and are described in the art.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that an activator can beadministered as a small molecule chemical, a protein, a nucleic acidconstruct encoding a protein, or combinations thereof. Numerous vectorsand other compositions and methods are well known for administering aprotein or a nucleic acid construct encoding a protein to cells ortissues. Therefore, the invention includes a method of administering aprotein or a nucleic acid encoding an protein that is an activator ofrenalase. (Sambrook et al., 2012, Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York; Ausubel et al., 1997,Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York).

One of skill in the art will realize that diminishing the amount oractivity of a molecule that itself diminishes the amount or activity ofrenalase can serve to increase the amount or activity of renalase.Antisense oligonucleotides are DNA or RNA molecules that arecomplementary to some portion of a mRNA molecule. When present in acell, antisense oligonucleotides hybridize to an existing mRNA moleculeand inhibit translation into a gene product Inhibiting the expression ofa gene using an antisense oligonucleotide is well known in the art(Marcus-Sekura, 1988, Anal. Biochem. 172:289), as are methods ofexpressing an antisense oligonucleotide in a cell (Inoue, U.S. Pat. No.5,190,931). The methods of the invention include the use of antisenseoligonucleotide to diminish the amount of a molecule that causes adecrease in the amount or activity renalase, thereby increasing theamount or activity of renalase. Contemplated in the present inventionare antisense oligonucleotides that are synthesized and provided to thecell by way of methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.As an example, an antisense oligonucleotide can be synthesized to bebetween about 10 and about 100, more preferably between about 15 andabout 50 nucleotides long. The synthesis of nucleic acid molecules iswell known in the art, as is the synthesis of modified antisenseoligonucleotides to improve biological activity in comparison tounmodified antisense oligonucleotides (Tullis, 1991, U.S. Pat. No.5,023,243).

Similarly, the expression of a gene may be inhibited by thehybridization of an antisense molecule to a promoter or other regulatoryelement of a gene, thereby affecting the transcription of the gene.Methods for the identification of a promoter or other regulatory elementthat interacts with a gene of interest are well known in the art, andinclude such methods as the yeast two hybrid system (Bartel and Fields,eds., In: The Yeast Two Hybrid System, Oxford University Press, Cary,N.C.).

Alternatively, inhibition of a gene expressing a protein that diminishesthe level or activity of renalase can be accomplished through the use ofa ribozyme. Using ribozymes for inhibiting gene expression is well knownto those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Cech et al., 1992, J. Biol.Chem. 267:17479; Hampel et al., 1989, Biochemistry 28: 4929; Altman etal., U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,053). Ribozymes are catalytic RNA moleculeswith the ability to cleave other single-stranded RNA molecules.Ribozymes are known to be sequence specific, and can therefore bemodified to recognize a specific nucleotide sequence (Cech, 1988, J.Amer. Med. Assn. 260:3030), allowing the selective cleavage of specificmRNA molecules. Given the nucleotide sequence of the molecule, one ofordinary skill in the art could synthesize an antisense oligonucleotideor ribozyme without undue experimentation, provided with the disclosureand references incorporated herein.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that a renalase activator,renalase polypeptide, a recombinant renalase polypeptide, or an activerenalase polypeptide fragment can be administered singly or in anycombination thereof. One of skill in the art will also appreciateadministration can be acute (e.g., over a short period of time, such asa day, a week or a month) or chronic (e.g., over a long period of time,such as several months or a year or more). Further, a renalasepolypeptide, a recombinant renalase polypeptide, or an active renalasepolypeptide fragment can be administered singly or in any combinationthereof in a temporal sense, in that they may be administeredsimultaneously, before, and/or after each other. One of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate, based on the disclosure provided herein,that a renalase polypeptide, a recombinant renalase polypeptide, or anactive renalase polypeptide fragment can be used, and that an activatorcan be used alone or in any combination with another renalasepolypeptide, recombinant renalase polypeptide, active renalasepolypeptide fragment, or renalase activator to effect a therapeuticresult.

It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, when armed with thepresent disclosure including the methods detailed herein, that theinvention is not limited to treatment of a disease or disorder once isestablished. Particularly, the symptoms of the disease or disorder neednot have manifested to the point of detriment to the subject; indeed,the disease or disorder need not be detected in a subject beforetreatment is administered. That is, significant pathology from diseaseor disorder does not have to occur before the present invention mayprovide benefit. Therefore, the present invention, as described morefully herein, includes a method for preventing diseases and disorders ina subject, in that a renalase molecule (e.g., polypeptide, peptide,etc.), or a renalase activator, as discussed elsewhere herein, can beadministered to a subject prior to the onset of the disease or disorder,thereby preventing the disease or disorder from developing.

One of skill in the art, when armed with the disclosure herein, wouldappreciate that the prevention of a disease or disorder in a subjectencompasses administering to a subject a renalase polypeptide, arecombinant renalase polypeptide, an active renalase polypeptidefragment, or renalase activator as a preventative measure against adisease or disorder.

As more fully discussed elsewhere herein, methods of increasing thelevel or activity of a renalase encompass a wide plethora of techniquesfor increasing not only renalase activity, but also for increasingexpression of a nucleic acid encoding renalase. Additionally, asdisclosed elsewhere herein, one skilled in the art would understand,once armed with the teaching provided herein, that the present inventionencompasses a method of preventing a wide variety of diseases ordisorders where increased expression and/or activity of renalasemediates, treats or prevents a disease or disorder. Further, theinvention encompasses treatment or prevention of such diseases ordisorders discovered in the future.

The invention encompasses administration of a renalase polypeptide, arecombinant renalase polypeptide, an active renalase polypeptidefragment, or a renalase activator to practice the methods of theinvention; the skilled artisan would understand, based on the disclosureprovided herein, how to formulate and administer the appropriaterenalase polypeptide, recombinant renalase polypeptide, active renalasepolypeptide fragment, or renalase activator to a subject. However, thepresent invention is not limited to any particular method ofadministration or treatment regimen. This is especially true where itwould be appreciated by one skilled in the art, equipped with thedisclosure provided herein, including the reduction to practice using anart-recognized model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, that methods ofadministering a renalase polypeptide, a recombinant renalasepolypeptide, an active renalase polypeptide fragment, or renalaseactivator can be determined by one of skill in the pharmacological arts.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier” means achemical composition with which an appropriate renalase modulator may becombined and which, following the combination, can be used to administerthe appropriate renalase modulator thereof, to a subject.

Methods of Diagnosis

In some embodiments, a change (i.e., increase or decrease) in the levelof renalase compared with a comparator is used in the methods of theinvention as marker for the diagnosis of a renal disease or disorder, ora cardiac disease or disorder, as well as for monitoring the treatmentof a renal or cardiac disease or disorder.

In one embodiment, the invention is a method of diagnosing a renaldisease or disorder, or a cardiac disease or disorder, of a subject byassessing the level of renalase in a biological sample of the subject.In one embodiment biological sample of the subject is a bodily fluid.Non-limiting examples of bodily fluids in which the level of renalasecan be assessed include, but are not limited to, blood, serum, plasmaand urine. In various embodiments, the level of renalase in thebiological sample of the subject is compared with the renalase level ina comparator. Non-limiting examples of comparators include, but are notlimited to, a negative control, a positive control, an expected normalbackground value of the subject, a historical normal background value ofthe subject, an expected normal background value of a population thatthe subject is a member of, or a historical normal background value of apopulation that the subject is a member of.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of monitoring theprogression of a renal disease or disorder, or a cardiac disease ordisorder, of a subject by assessing the level of renalase in abiological sample of the subject. In one embodiment biological sample ofthe subject is a bodily fluid. Non-limiting examples of bodily fluids inwhich the level of renalase can be assessed include, but are not limitedto, blood, serum, plasma and urine. In various embodiments, the level ofrenalase in the biological sample of the subject is compared with therenalase level in a comparator. Non-limiting examples of comparatorsinclude, but are not limited to, a negative control, a positive control,an expected normal background value of the subject, a historical normalbackground value of the subject, an expected normal background value ofa population that the subject is a member of, or a historical normalbackground value of a population that the subject is a member of.

In a further embodiment, the invention is a method of assessing theseverity of a renal disease or disorder, or a cardiac disease ordisorder, of a subject by assessing the level of renalase in abiological sample of the subject. In one embodiment biological sample ofthe subject is a bodily fluid. Non-limiting examples of bodily fluids inwhich the level of renalase can be assessed include, but are not limitedto, blood, serum, plasma and urine. In various embodiments, the level ofrenalase in the biological sample of the subject is compared with therenalase level in a comparator. Non-limiting examples of comparatorsinclude, but are not limited to, a negative control, a positive control,an expected normal background value of the subject, a historical normalbackground value of the subject, an expected normal background value ofa population that the subject is a member of, or a historical normalbackground value of a population that the subject is a member of.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of selecting atreatment regimen to treat a renal disease or disorder, or a cardiacdisease or disorder, of a subject by assessing the level of renalase ina biological sample of the subject. In one embodiment biological sampleof the subject is a bodily fluid. Non-limiting examples of bodily fluidsin which the level of renalase can be assessed include, but are notlimited to, blood, serum, plasma and urine. In various embodiments, thelevel of renalase in the biological sample of the subject is comparedwith the renalase level in a comparator. Non-limiting examples ofcomparators include, but are not limited to, a negative control, apositive control, an expected normal background value of the subject, ahistorical normal background value of the subject, an expected normalbackground value of a population that the subject is a member of, or ahistorical normal background value of a population that the subject is amember of.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of monitoring theeffect of a treatment of a renal disease or disorder, or a cardiacdisease or disorder, of a subject by assessing the level of renalase ina biological sample of the subject. In one embodiment biological sampleof the subject is a bodily fluid. Non-limiting examples of bodily fluidsin which the level of renalase can be assessed include, but are notlimited to, blood, serum, plasma and urine. In various embodiments, thelevel of renalase in the biological sample of the subject is comparedwith the renalase level in a comparator. Non-limiting examples ofcomparators include, but are not limited to, a negative control, apositive control, an expected normal background value of the subject, ahistorical normal background value of the subject, an expected normalbackground value of a population that the subject is a member of, or ahistorical normal background value of a population that the subject is amember of.

In various embodiments, the subject is a human subject, and may be ofany race, sex and age. Representative subjects include those who aresuspected of having experienced a renal or cardiac injury, such as IRinjury, those who have been diagnosed as having experienced a renal orcardiac injury, such as IR injury, those who have been diagnosed ashaving a disease or disorder associated with a renal or cardiac injury,such as IR injury, and those who are at risk of developing a disease ordisorder associated with a renal or cardiac injury, such as IR injury.

Information obtained from the methods of the invention described hereincan be used alone, or in combination with other information (e.g.,disease status, disease history, vital signs, blood chemistry, etc.)from the subject or from the biological sample obtained from thesubject.

In the diagnostic methods of the invention, a biological sample obtainedfrom a subject is assessed for the level of renalase contained therein.In one embodiment, the biological sample is a sample containing at leasta fragment of a renalase polypeptide useful in the methods describedherein.

In other various embodiments of the methods of the invention, the levelof renalase is determined to be reduced when the level of renalase isreduced by at least 10%, by at least 20%, by at least 30%, by at least40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 80%,by at least 90%, or by at least 100%, when compared to with a comparatorcontrol. In various embodiments, a reduced level of renalase isindicative of a disease or disorder.

In other various embodiments of the methods of the invention, the levelof renalase is determined to be increased when the level of renalase isincreased by at least 10%, by at least 20%, by at least 30%, by at least40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 80%,by at least 90%, or by at least 100%, when compared to with a comparatorcontrol. In various embodiments, an increased level of renalase isindicative of a disease or disorder.

In the methods of the invention, a biological sample from a subject isassessed for the level of renalase in the biological sample obtainedfrom the patient. The level of renalase in the biological sample can bedetermined by assessing the amount of renalase polypeptide in thebiological sample, the amount of renalase mRNA in the biological sample,the amount of renalase enzymatic activity in the biological sample, or acombination thereof.

In various embodiments of the methods of the invention, methods ofmeasuring renalase levels in a biological sample obtained from a patientinclude, but are not limited to, an immunochromatography assay, animmunodot assay, a Luminex assay, an ELISA assay, an ELISPOT assay, aprotein microarray assay, a Western blot assay, a mass spectrophotometryassay, a radioimmunoassay (RIA), a radioimmunodiffusion assay, a liquidchromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay, an ouchterlonyimmunodiffusion assay, reverse phase protein microarray, a rocketimmunoelectrophoresis assay, an immunohistostaining assay, animmunoprecipitation assay, a complement fixation assay, FACS, anenzyme-substrate binding assay, an enzymatic assay, an enzymatic assayemploying a detectable molecule, such as a chromophore, fluorophore, orradioactive substrate, a substrate binding assay employing such asubstrate, a substrate displacement assay employing such a substrate,and a protein chip assay (see also, 2007, Van Emon, Immunoassay andOther Bioanalytical Techniques, CRC Press; 2005, Wild, ImmunoassayHandbook, Gulf Professional Publishing; 1996, Diamandis andChristopoulos, Immunoassay, Academic Press; 2005, Joos, Microarrays inClinical Diagnosis, Humana Press; 2005, Hamdan and Righetti, ProteomicsToday, John Wiley and Sons; 2007).

Therapeutic Inhibitor Compositions and Methods

In various embodiments, the present invention includes renalaseinhibitor compositions and methods of treating or preventing a diseaseor disorder where a diminished activity or level of renalase is desired.One non-limiting example of a disease or disorder where a diminishedactivity or level of renalase is desired which can be treated orprevented with the compositions and methods of the invention includescancer. In various embodiments, the renalase inhibitor compositions andmethods of treatment or prevention of the invention diminish the amountof renalase polypeptide, the amount of renalase mRNA, the amount ofrenalase enzymatic activity, the amount of renalase substrate bindingactivity, or a combination thereof.

It will be understood by one skilled in the art, based upon thedisclosure provided herein, that a decrease in the level of renalaseencompasses the decrease in renalase expression, includingtranscription, translation, or both. The skilled artisan will alsoappreciate, once armed with the teachings of the present invention, thata decrease in the level of renalase includes a decrease in renalaseactivity (e.g., enzymatic activity, substrate binding activity, etc.).Thus, decreasing the level or activity of renalase includes, but is notlimited to, decreasing transcription, translation, or both, of a nucleicacid encoding renalase; and it also includes decreasing any activity ofa renalase polypeptide as well. The renalase inhibitor compositions andmethods of the invention can selectively inhibit renalase, or caninhibit both renalase and another molecule.

Inhibition of renalase can be assessed using a wide variety of methods,including those disclosed herein, as well as methods known in the art orto be developed in the future. That is, the routineer would appreciate,based upon the disclosure provided herein, that decreasing the level oractivity of renalase can be readily assessed using methods that assessthe level of a nucleic acid encoding renalase (e.g., mRNA), the level ofa renalase polypeptide present in a biological sample, the level ofrenalase activity (e.g., enzymatic activity, substrate binding activity,etc.), or combinations thereof.

One skilled in the art, based upon the disclosure provided herein, wouldunderstand that the invention is useful in treating or preventing in asubject in need thereof, whether or not the subject is also beingtreated with other medication or therapy. Further, the skilled artisanwould further appreciate, based upon the teachings provided herein, thatthe disease or disorders treatable by the compositions and methodsdescribed herein encompass any disease or disorder where renalase playsa role and where diminished renalase level or activity will promote apositive therapeutic outcome.

The renalase inhibitor compositions and methods of the invention thatdecrease the level or activity (e.g., enzymatic activity, substratebinding activity, etc.) of renalase include, but should not be construedas being limited to, a chemical compound, a protein, a peptide, apeptidomemetic, an antibody, a ribozyme, a small molecule chemicalcompound, an antisense nucleic acid molecule (e.g., siRNA, miRNA, etc.),or combinations thereof. One of skill in the art would readilyappreciate, based on the disclosure provided herein, that a renalaseinhibitor composition encompasses a chemical compound that decreases thelevel or activity of renalase. Additionally, a renalase inhibitorcomposition encompasses a chemically modified compound, and derivatives,as is well known to one of skill in the chemical arts.

The renalase inhibitor compositions and methods of the invention thatdecrease the level or activity (e.g., enzymatic activity, substratebinding activity, etc.) of renalase include antibodies. The antibodiesof the invention include a variety of forms of antibodies including, forexample, polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, intracellularantibodies (“intrabodies”), Fv, Fab and F(ab)2, single chain antibodies(scFv), heavy chain antibodies (such as camelid antibodies), syntheticantibodies, chimeric antibodies, and a humanized antibodies. In oneembodiment, the antibody of the invention is an antibody thatspecifically binds to renalase.

Further, one of skill in the art, when equipped with this disclosure andthe methods exemplified herein, would appreciate that a renalaseinhibitor composition includes such inhibitors as discovered in thefuture, as can be identified by well-known criteria in the art ofpharmacology, such as the physiological results of inhibition ofrenalase as described in detail herein and/or as known in the art.Therefore, the present invention is not limited in any way to anyparticular renalase inhibitor composition as exemplified or disclosedherein; rather, the invention encompasses those inhibitor compositionsthat would be understood by the routineer to be useful as are known inthe art and as are discovered in the future.

Further methods of identifying and producing renalase inhibitorcompositions are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art,including, but not limited, obtaining an inhibitor from a naturallyoccurring source (e.g., Streptomyces sp., Pseudomonas sp., Stylotellaaurantium, etc.). Alternatively, a renalase inhibitor can be synthesizedchemically. Further, the routineer would appreciate, based upon theteachings provided herein, that a renalase inhibitor composition can beobtained from a recombinant organism. Compositions and methods forchemically synthesizing renalase inhibitors and for obtaining them fromnatural sources are well known in the art and are described in the art.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that an inhibitor can beadministered as a small molecule chemical, a protein, an antibody, anucleic acid construct encoding a protein, an antisense nucleic acid, anucleic acid construct encoding an antisense nucleic acid, orcombinations thereof. Numerous vectors and other compositions andmethods are well known for administering a protein or a nucleic acidconstruct encoding a protein to cells or tissues. Therefore, theinvention includes a method of administering a protein or a nucleic acidencoding a protein that is an inhibitor of renalase. (Sambrook et al.,2012, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory, New York; Ausubel et al., 1997, Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York).

One of skill in the art will realize that diminishing the amount oractivity of a molecule that itself increases the amount or activity ofrenalase can serve in the compositions and methods of the presentinvention to decrease the amount or activity of renalase.

Antisense oligonucleotides are DNA or RNA molecules that arecomplementary to some portion of an RNA molecule. When present in acell, antisense oligonucleotides hybridize to an existing RNA moleculeand inhibit translation into a gene product Inhibiting the expression ofa gene using an antisense oligonucleotide is well known in the art(Marcus-Sekura, 1988, Anal. Biochem. 172:289), as are methods ofexpressing an antisense oligonucleotide in a cell (Inoue, U.S. Pat. No.5,190,931). The methods of the invention include the use of an antisenseoligonucleotide to diminish the amount of renalase, or to diminish theamount of a molecule that causes an increase in the amount or activityof renalase, thereby decreasing the amount or activity of renalase.

Contemplated in the present invention are antisense oligonucleotidesthat are synthesized and provided to the cell by way of methods wellknown to those of ordinary skill in the art. As an example, an antisenseoligonucleotide can be synthesized to be between about 10 and about 100,more preferably between about 15 and about 50 nucleotides long. Thesynthesis of nucleic acid molecules is well known in the art, as is thesynthesis of modified antisense oligonucleotides to improve biologicalactivity in comparison to unmodified antisense oligonucleotides (Tullis,1991, U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243).

Similarly, the expression of a gene may be inhibited by thehybridization of an antisense molecule to a promoter or other regulatoryelement of a gene, thereby affecting the transcription of the gene.Methods for the identification of a promoter or other regulatory elementthat interacts with a gene of interest are well known in the art, andinclude such methods as the yeast two hybrid system (Bartel and Fields,eds., In: The Yeast Two Hybrid System, Oxford University Press, Cary,N.C.).

Alternatively, inhibition of a gene expressing renalase, or of a geneexpressing a protein that increases the level or activity of renalase,can be accomplished through the use of a ribozyme. Using ribozymes forinhibiting gene expression is well known to those of skill in the art(see, e.g., Cech et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:17479; Hampel et al.,1989, Biochemistry 28: 4929; Altman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,053).Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules with the ability to cleave othersingle-stranded RNA molecules. Ribozymes are known to be sequencespecific, and can therefore be modified to recognize a specificnucleotide sequence (Cech, 1988, J. Amer. Med. Assn. 260:3030), allowingthe selective cleavage of specific mRNA molecules. Given the nucleotidesequence of the molecule, one of ordinary skill in the art couldsynthesize an antisense oligonucleotide or ribozyme without undueexperimentation, provided with the disclosure and referencesincorporated herein.

One of skill in the art will appreciate that inhibitors of renalase canbe administered acutely (e.g., over a short period of time, such as aday, a week or a month) or chronically (e.g., over a long period oftime, such as several months or a year or more). One of skill in the artwill appreciate that inhibitors of renalase can be administered singlyor in any combination with other agents. Further, renalase inhibitorscan be administered singly or in any combination in a temporal sense, inthat they may be administered concurrently, or before, and/or after eachother. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, based on thedisclosure provided herein, that renalase inhibitor compositions can beused to treat or prevent a disease or disorder in a subject in needthereof, and that an inhibitor composition can be used alone or in anycombination with another inhibitor to effect a therapeutic result.

In various embodiments, any of the inhibitors of renalase of theinvention described herein can be administered alone or in combinationwith other inhibitors of other molecules associated with cancer.

It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, when armed with thepresent disclosure including the methods detailed herein, that theinvention is not limited to treatment of a disease or disorder that isalready established. Particularly, the disease or disorder need not havemanifested to the point of detriment to the subject; indeed, the diseaseor disorder need not be detected in a subject before treatment isadministered. That is, significant disease or disorder does not have tooccur before the present invention may provide benefit. Therefore, thepresent invention includes a method for preventing a disease or disorderin a subject, in that a renalase inhibitor composition, as discussedpreviously elsewhere herein, can be administered to a subject prior tothe onset of the disease or disorder, thereby preventing the disease ordisorder from developing. The preventive methods described herein alsoinclude the treatment of a subject that is in remission for theprevention of a recurrence of a disease or disorder.

One of skill in the art, when armed with the disclosure herein, wouldappreciate that the prevention of a disease or disorder encompassesadministering to a subject a renalase inhibitor composition as apreventative measure against the disease or disorder. As more fullydiscussed elsewhere herein, methods of decreasing the level or activityof renalase encompass a wide plethora of techniques for decreasing notonly renalase activity, but also for decreasing expression of a nucleicacid encoding renalase, including either a decrease in transcription, adecrease in translation, or both.

Additionally, as disclosed elsewhere herein, one skilled in the artwould understand, once armed with the teaching provided herein, that thepresent invention encompasses a method of preventing a wide variety ofdiseases, disorders and pathologies where a decrease in expressionand/or activity of renalase mediates, treats or prevents the disease,disorder or pathology. Methods for assessing whether a disease relatesto the levels or activity of renalase are known in the art. Further, theinvention encompasses treatment or prevention of such diseasesdiscovered in the future.

The invention encompasses administration of an inhibitor of renalase topractice the methods of the invention; the skilled artisan wouldunderstand, based on the disclosure provided herein, how to formulateand administer the appropriate renalase inhibitor to a subject. However,the present invention is not limited to any particular method ofadministration or treatment regimen.

Kits

The present invention also pertains to kits useful in the methods of theinvention. Such kits comprise various combinations of components usefulin any of the methods described elsewhere herein, including for example,a renalase activator, a renalase inhibitor, materials for quantitativelyanalyzing renalase polypeptide or renalase nucleic acid, materials forassessing the activity of a renalase polypeptide or a renalase nucleicacid, and instructional material. For example, in one embodiment, thekit comprises components useful for the quantification of renalasenucleic acid in a biological sample. In another embodiment, the kitcomprises components useful for the quantification of renalasepolypeptide in a biological sample. In a further embodiment, the kitcomprises components useful for the assessment of the activity (e.g.,enzymatic activity, substrate binding activity, etc.) of a renalasepolypeptide in a biological sample.

In a further embodiment, the kit comprises the components of an assayfor monitoring the effectiveness of a treatment administered to asubject in need thereof, containing instructional material and thecomponents for determining whether the level of renalase in a biologicalsample obtained from the subject is modulated during or afteradministration of the treatment. In various embodiments, to determinewhether the level of renalase is modulated in a biological sampleobtained from the subject, the level of renalase is compared with thelevel of at least one comparator control contained in the kit, such as apositive control, a negative control, a historical control, a historicalnorm, or the level of another reference molecule in the biologicalsample. In certain embodiments, the ratio of renalase and a referencemolecule is determined to aid in the monitoring of the treatment.

Pharmaceutical Composition and Administration

Compositions comprising a renalase polypeptide, a renalase polypeptidefragment, an activator of renalase level or activity, or an inhibitor ofrenalase level or activity can be formulated and administered to asubject, as now described. By way of non-limiting examples, acomposition identified as a useful renalase active or activator,including renalase polypeptides, recombinant renalase polypeptides, andactive renalase polypeptide fragments, for the treatment and/orprevention of a disease or disorder can be formulated and administeredto a subject, as now described. By way of more non-limiting examples, acomposition identified as a useful renalase inhibitor, including achemical compound, a protein, a peptide, a peptidomemetic, an antibody,a ribozyme, a small molecule chemical compound, an antisense nucleicacid molecule (e.g., siRNA, miRNA, etc.), for the treatment and/orprevention of a disease or disorder can be formulated and administeredto a subject, as now described.

The invention encompasses the preparation and use of pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising a composition useful for the treatment orprevention of a disease or disorder, disclosed herein as an activeingredient. Such a pharmaceutical composition may consist of the activeingredient alone, in a form suitable for administration to a subject, orthe pharmaceutical composition may comprise the active ingredient andone or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, one or more additionalingredients, or some combination of these. The active ingredient may bepresent in the pharmaceutical composition in the form of aphysiologically acceptable ester or salt, such as in combination with aphysiologically acceptable cation or anion, as is well known in the art.In various embodiments, the active ingredient is a renalase polypeptide,a renalase polypeptide fragment, an activator of renalase level oractivity, an inhibitor of renalase level or activity, or a combinationthereof, as elsewhere described herein.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier” means achemical composition with which an appropriate renalase modulatorthereof, may be combined and which, following the combination, can beused to administer the appropriate renalase modulator (e.g., activator,inhibitor, etc.) thereof, to a subject.

The pharmaceutical compositions useful for practicing the invention maybe administered to deliver a dose of between about 0.1 ng/kg/day and 100mg/kg/day, or more.

In various embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions useful in themethods of the invention may be administered, by way of example,systemically, parenterally, or topically, such as, in oral formulations,inhaled formulations, including solid or aerosol, and by topical orother similar formulations. In addition to the appropriate therapeuticcomposition, such pharmaceutical compositions may containpharmaceutically acceptable carriers and other ingredients known toenhance and facilitate drug administration. Other possible formulations,such as nanoparticles, liposomes, resealed erythrocytes, andimmunologically based systems may also be used to administer anappropriate modulator thereof, according to the methods of theinvention.

As used herein, the term “physiologically acceptable” ester or saltmeans an ester or salt form of the active ingredient which is compatiblewith any other ingredients of the pharmaceutical composition, which isnot deleterious to the subject to which the composition is to beadministered.

The formulations of the pharmaceutical compositions described herein maybe prepared by any method known or hereafter developed in the art ofpharmacology. In general, such preparatory methods include the step ofbringing the active ingredient into association with a carrier or one ormore other accessory ingredients, and then, if necessary or desirable,shaping or packaging the product into a desired single- or multi-doseunit.

Although the descriptions of pharmaceutical compositions provided hereinare principally directed to pharmaceutical compositions which aresuitable for ethical administration to humans, it will be understood bythe skilled artisan that such compositions are generally suitable foradministration to animals of all sorts. Modification of pharmaceuticalcompositions suitable for administration to humans in order to renderthe compositions suitable for administration to various animals is wellunderstood, and the ordinarily skilled veterinary pharmacologist candesign and perform such modification with merely ordinary, if any,experimentation.

Pharmaceutical compositions that are useful in the methods of theinvention may be prepared, packaged, or sold in formulations suitablefor oral, rectal, vaginal, parenteral, topical, pulmonary, intranasal,buccal, intravenous, transdermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular,ophthalmic, intrathecal and other known routes of administration. Othercontemplated formulations include projected nanoparticles, liposomalpreparations, resealed erythrocytes containing the active ingredient,and immunologically-based formulations.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be prepared, packaged,or sold in bulk, as a single unit dose, or as a plurality of single unitdoses. As used herein, a “unit dose” is discrete amount of thepharmaceutical composition comprising a predetermined amount of theactive ingredient. The amount of the active ingredient is generallyequal to the dosage of the active ingredient which would be administeredto a subject or a convenient fraction of such a dosage such as, forexample, one-half or one-third of such a dosage.

The relative amounts of the active ingredient, the pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier, and any additional ingredients in a pharmaceuticalcomposition of the invention will vary, depending upon the identity,size, and condition of the subject treated and further depending uponthe route by which the composition is to be administered. By way ofexample, the composition may comprise between 0.1% and 100% (w/w) activeingredient.

In addition to the active ingredient, a pharmaceutical composition ofthe invention may further comprise one or more additionalpharmaceutically active agents.

Controlled- or sustained-release formulations of a pharmaceuticalcomposition of the invention may be made using conventional technology.

A formulation of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention suitablefor oral administration may be prepared, packaged, or sold in the formof a discrete solid dose unit including, but not limited to, a tablet, ahard or soft capsule, a cachet, a troche, or a lozenge, each containinga predetermined amount of the active ingredient. Other formulationssuitable for oral administration include, but are not limited to, apowdered or granular formulation, an aqueous or oily suspension, anaqueous or oily solution, or an emulsion.

Pharmaceutically acceptable excipients used in the manufacture ofpharmaceutical compositions include, but are not limited to, inertdiluents, granulating and disintegrating agents, binding agents, andlubricating agents. Known dispersing agents include, but are not limitedto, potato starch and sodium starch glycollate. Known surface activeagents include, but are not limited to, sodium lauryl sulphate. Knowndiluents include, but are not limited to, calcium carbonate, sodiumcarbonate, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, calcium phosphate,calcium hydrogen phosphate, and sodium phosphate. Known granulating anddisintegrating agents include, but are not limited to, corn starch andalginic acid. Known binding agents include, but are not limited to,gelatin, acacia, pre-gelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, andhydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Known lubricating agents include, but arenot limited to, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, silica, and talc.

Liquid formulations of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention maybe prepared, packaged, and sold either in liquid form or in the form ofa dry product intended for reconstitution with water or another suitablevehicle prior to use.

Liquid suspensions may be prepared using conventional methods to achievesuspension of the active ingredient in an aqueous or oily vehicle.Aqueous vehicles include, for example, water and isotonic saline. Oilyvehicles include, for example, almond oil, oily esters, ethyl alcohol,vegetable oils such as arachis, olive, sesame, or coconut oil,fractionated vegetable oils, and mineral oils such as liquid paraffin.Liquid suspensions may further comprise one or more additionalingredients including, but not limited to, suspending agents, dispersingor wetting agents, emulsifying agents, demulcents, preservatives,buffers, salts, flavorings, coloring agents, and sweetening agents. Oilysuspensions may further comprise a thickening agent.

Known suspending agents include, but are not limited to, sorbitol syrup,hydrogenated edible fats, sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gumtragacanth, gum acacia, and cellulose derivatives such as sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, andhydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Known dispersing or wetting agentsinclude, but are not limited to, naturally-occurring phosphatides suchas lecithin, condensation products of an alkylene oxide with a fattyacid, with a long chain aliphatic alcohol, with a partial ester derivedfrom a fatty acid and a hexitol, or with a partial ester derived from afatty acid and a hexitol anhydride (e.g. polyoxyethylene stearate,heptadecaethyleneoxycetanol, polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, andpolyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, respectively). Known emulsifyingagents include, but are not limited to, lecithin and acacia. Knownpreservatives include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, orn-propyl-para-hydroxybenzoates, ascorbic acid, and sorbic acid. Knownsweetening agents include, for example, glycerol, propylene glycol,sorbitol, sucrose, and saccharin. Known thickening agents for oilysuspensions include, for example, beeswax, hard paraffin, and cetylalcohol.

Liquid solutions of the active ingredient in aqueous or oily solventsmay be prepared in substantially the same manner as liquid suspensions,the primary difference being that the active ingredient is dissolved,rather than suspended in the solvent. Liquid solutions of thepharmaceutical composition of the invention may comprise each of thecomponents described with regard to liquid suspensions, it beingunderstood that suspending agents will not necessarily aid dissolutionof the active ingredient in the solvent. Aqueous solvents include, forexample, water and isotonic saline. Oily solvents include, for example,almond oil, oily esters, ethyl alcohol, vegetable oils such as arachis,olive, sesame, or coconut oil, fractionated vegetable oils, and mineraloils such as liquid paraffin.

Powdered and granular formulations of a pharmaceutical preparation ofthe invention may be prepared using known methods. Such formulations maybe administered directly to a subject, used, for example, to formtablets, to fill capsules, or to prepare an aqueous or oily suspensionor solution by addition of an aqueous or oily vehicle thereto. Each ofthese formulations may further comprise one or more of dispersing orwetting agent, a suspending agent, and a preservative. Additionalexcipients, such as fillers and sweetening, flavoring, or coloringagents, may also be included in these formulations.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention may also be prepared,packaged, or sold in the form of oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oilemulsion. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil such as olive or arachisoil, a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin, or a combination of these.Such compositions may further comprise one or more emulsifying agentssuch as naturally occurring gums such as gum acacia or gum tragacanth,naturally-occurring phosphatides such as soybean or lecithinphosphatide, esters or partial esters derived from combinations of fattyacids and hexitol anhydrides such as sorbitan monooleate, andcondensation products of such partial esters with ethylene oxide such aspolyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. These emulsions may also containadditional ingredients including, for example, sweetening or flavoringagents.

Methods for impregnating or coating a material with a chemicalcomposition are known in the art, and include, but are not limited tomethods of depositing or binding a chemical composition onto a surface,methods of incorporating a chemical composition into the structure of amaterial during the synthesis of the material (i.e., such as with aphysiologically degradable material), and methods of absorbing anaqueous or oily solution or suspension into an absorbent material, withor without subsequent drying.

As used herein, “parenteral administration” of a pharmaceuticalcomposition includes any route of administration characterized byphysical breaching of a tissue of a subject and administration of thepharmaceutical composition through the breach in the tissue. Parenteraladministration thus includes, but is not limited to, administration of apharmaceutical composition by injection of the composition, byapplication of the composition through a surgical incision, byapplication of the composition through a tissue-penetrating non-surgicalwound, and the like. In particular, parenteral administration iscontemplated to include, but is not limited to, cutaneous, subcutaneous,intraperitoneal, intravenous, intramuscular, intracisternal injection,and kidney dialytic infusion techniques.

Formulations of a pharmaceutical composition suitable for parenteraladministration comprise the active ingredient combined with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as sterile water or sterileisotonic saline. Such formulations may be prepared, packaged, or sold ina form suitable for bolus administration or for continuousadministration. Injectable formulations may be prepared, packaged, orsold in unit dosage form, such as in ampules or in multi-dose containerscontaining a preservative. Formulations for parenteral administrationinclude, but are not limited to, suspensions, solutions, emulsions inoily or aqueous vehicles, pastes, and implantable sustained-release orbiodegradable formulations. Such formulations may further comprise oneor more additional ingredients including, but not limited to,suspending, stabilizing, or dispersing agents. In one embodiment of aformulation for parenteral administration, the active ingredient isprovided in dry (i.e., powder or granular) form for reconstitution witha suitable vehicle (e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water) prior toparenteral administration of the reconstituted composition.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be prepared, packaged, or sold inthe form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oily suspension or solution.This suspension or solution may be formulated according to the knownart, and may comprise, in addition to the active ingredient, additionalingredients such as the dispersing agents, wetting agents, or suspendingagents described herein. Such sterile injectable formulations may beprepared using a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent,such as water or 1,3-butane diol, for example. Other acceptable diluentsand solvents include, but are not limited to, Ringer's solution,isotonic sodium chloride solution, and fixed oils such as syntheticmono- or di-glycerides. Other parentally-administrable formulationswhich are useful include those which comprise the active ingredient inmicrocrystalline form, in a liposomal preparation, or as a component ofa biodegradable polymer systems. Compositions for sustained release orimplantation may comprise pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric orhydrophobic materials such as an emulsion, an ion exchange resin, asparingly soluble polymer, or a sparingly soluble salt.

Formulations suitable for topical administration include, but are notlimited to, liquid or semi-liquid preparations such as liniments,lotions, oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions such as creams,ointments or pastes, and solutions or suspensions.Topically-administrable formulations may, for example, comprise fromabout 1% to about 10% (w/w) active ingredient, although theconcentration of the active ingredient may be as high as the solubilitylimit of the active ingredient in the solvent Formulations for topicaladministration may further comprise one or more of the additionalingredients described herein.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be prepared, packaged,or sold in a formulation suitable for pulmonary administration via thebuccal cavity. Such a formulation may comprise dry particles whichcomprise the active ingredient and which have a diameter in the rangefrom about 0.5 to about 7 nanometers, and preferably from about 1 toabout 6 nanometers. Such compositions are conveniently in the form ofdry powders for administration using a device comprising a dry powderreservoir to which a stream of propellant may be directed to dispersethe powder or using a self-propelling solvent/powder-dispensingcontainer such as a device comprising the active ingredient dissolved orsuspended in a low-boiling propellant in a sealed container. Preferably,such powders comprise particles wherein at least 98% of the particles byweight have a diameter greater than 0.5 nanometers and at least 95% ofthe particles by number have a diameter less than 7 nanometers. Morepreferably, at least 95% of the particles by weight have a diametergreater than 1 nanometer and at least 90% of the particles by numberhave a diameter less than 6 nanometers. Dry powder compositionspreferably include a solid fine powder diluent such as sugar and areconveniently provided in a unit dose form.

Low boiling propellants generally include liquid propellants having aboiling point of below 65° F. at atmospheric pressure. Generally thepropellant may constitute 50 to 99.9% (w/w) of the composition, and theactive ingredient may constitute 0.1 to 20% (w/w) of the composition.The propellant may further comprise additional ingredients such as aliquid non-ionic or solid anionic surfactant or a solid diluent(preferably having a particle size of the same order as particlescomprising the active ingredient).

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention formulated for pulmonarydelivery may also provide the active ingredient in the form of dropletsof a solution or suspension. Such formulations may be prepared,packaged, or sold as aqueous or dilute alcoholic solutions orsuspensions, optionally sterile, comprising the active ingredient, andmay conveniently be administered using any nebulization or atomizationdevice. Such formulations may further comprise one or more additionalingredients including, but not limited to, a flavoring agent such assaccharin sodium, a volatile oil, a buffering agent, a surface activeagent, or a preservative such as methylhydroxybenzoate. The dropletsprovided by this route of administration preferably have an averagediameter in the range from about 0.1 to about 200 nanometers. Theformulations described herein as being useful for pulmonary delivery arealso useful for intranasal delivery of a pharmaceutical composition ofthe invention. Another formulation suitable for intranasaladministration is a coarse powder comprising the active ingredient andhaving an average particle from about 0.2 to 500 micrometers.

Such a formulation is administered in the manner in which snuff is takeni.e. by rapid inhalation through the nasal passage from a container ofthe powder held close to the nares. Formulations suitable for nasaladministration may, for example, comprise from about as little as 0.1%(w/w) and as much as 100% (w/w) of the active ingredient, and mayfurther comprise one or more of the additional ingredients describedherein.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be prepared, packaged,or sold in a formulation suitable for buccal administration. Suchformulations may, for example, be in the form of tablets or lozengesmade using conventional methods, and may, for example, contain 0.1 to20% (w/w) active ingredient, the balance comprising an orallydissolvable or degradable composition and, optionally, one or more ofthe additional ingredients described herein. Alternately, formulationssuitable for buccal administration may comprise a powder or anaerosolized or atomized solution or suspension comprising the activeingredient. Such powdered, aerosolized, or aerosolized formulations,when dispersed, preferably have an average particle or droplet size inthe range from about 0.1 to about 200 nanometers, and may furthercomprise one or more of the additional ingredients described herein.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be prepared, packaged,or sold in a formulation suitable for ophthalmic administration. Suchformulations may, for example, be in the form of eye drops including,for example, a 0.1-1.0% (w/w) solution or suspension of the activeingredient in an aqueous or oily liquid carrier. Such drops may furthercomprise buffering agents, salts, or one or more other of the additionalingredients described herein. Other opthalmically-administrableformulations which are useful include those which comprise the activeingredient in microcrystalline form or in a liposomal preparation.

As used herein, “additional ingredients” include, but are not limitedto, one or more of the following: excipients; surface active agents;dispersing agents; inert diluents; granulating and disintegratingagents; binding agents; lubricating agents; sweetening agents; flavoringagents; coloring agents; preservatives; physiologically degradablecompositions such as gelatin; aqueous vehicles and solvents; oilyvehicles and solvents; suspending agents; dispersing or wetting agents;emulsifying agents, demulcents; buffers; salts; thickening agents;fillers; emulsifying agents; antioxidants; antibiotics; antifungalagents; stabilizing agents; and pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric orhydrophobic materials. Other “additional ingredients” which may beincluded in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are knownin the art and described, for example in Genaro, ed., 1985, Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., which isincorporated herein by reference.

Typically dosages of the compound of the invention which may beadministered to an animal, preferably a human, range in amount fromabout 0.01 mg to about 1000 mg per kilogram of body weight of theanimal. The precise dosage administered will vary depending upon anynumber of factors, including, but not limited to, the type of animal andtype of disease or disorder being treated, the age of the animal and theroute of administration. Preferably, the dosage of the compound willvary from about 1 mg to about 100 mg per kilogram of body weight of theanimal. The compound can be administered to an animal as frequently asseveral times daily, or it can be administered less frequently, such asonce a day, once a week, once every two weeks, once a month, or evenless frequently, such as once every several months or even once a yearor less. The frequency of the dose will be readily apparent to theskilled artisan and will depend upon any number of factors, such as, butnot limited to, the type and severity of the disease or disorder beingtreated, the type and age of the animal, etc.

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES

The invention is further described in detail by reference to thefollowing experimental examples. These examples are provided forpurposes of illustration only, and are not intended to be limitingunless otherwise specified. Thus, the invention should in no way beconstrued as being limited to the following examples, but rather, shouldbe construed to encompass any and all variations which become evident asa result of the teaching provided herein.

Without further description, it is believed that one of ordinary skillin the art can, using the preceding description and the followingillustrative examples, make and utilize the present invention andpractice the claimed methods. The following working examples therefore,specifically point out the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, and are not to be construed as limiting in any way theremainder of the disclosure.

Example 1: Renalase Protects Against Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury inMice

Renalase is a renal proximal tubule secreted amine oxidase that degradescirculating catecholamines and reduces myocardial necrosis. The datapresented herein demonstrate that renalase protects against renalischemia and reperfusion injury. As shown herein, renalase isselectively expressed in proximal but not distal renal tubules. Micesubjected to renal ischemia reperfusion injury had significantly reducedkidney and plasma renalase levels compared to the sham-operated mice.Consistent with this, mouse plasma norepinephrine levels increasedsignificantly after renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Furthermore,renalase deficient mice subjected to renal ischemia and reperfusion hadexacerbated renal tubular inflammation, necrosis and apoptosis withhigher plasma catecholamine levels compared to the renalase wild typemice. Administration of recombinant human renalase reduced plasmacatecholamine levels and ameliorated ischemic acute kidney injury inrenalase wild type mice by reducing renal tubular necrosis, inflammationand apoptosis. Taken together, the data show that renalase protectsagainst ischemic acute kidney injury by reducing renal tubular necrosis,apoptosis and inflammation. Recombinant renalase therapy provides anovel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of acutekidney injury. In addition, as plasma renalase decreases after ischemicacute kidney injury, plasma renalase levels serves as a novel andsensitive biomarker for the detection of acute kidney injury.

As described herein, experiments were conducted to assess whetherischemic AKI in mice leads to renalase deficiency and whether renalasedeficiency directly exacerbates ischemic AKI. Thus, experiments wereperformed to test whether 1) ischemic AKI leads to reduced kidney andplasma renalase levels, 2) ischemic AKI-induced renalase deficiencyleads to elevated plasma catecholamine (norepinephrine) levels, 3)renalase deficient mice exhibit increased renal IR injury and 4)exogenous administration of recombinant human renalase directly protectsagainst ischemic AKI in mice.

Ischemic AKI is complicated by intra-renal recruitment ofpro-inflammatory leukocytes and systemic inflammation (Okusa, 2010,Contrib Nephrol 165: 153-158). Recent studies have demonstrated thatrenal IR is not a single organ disease but involves multiple extra-renalorgans including the liver, intestine and lung (Paladino et al., 2009,Microvasc Res 77: 8-12; Park et al., 2011, Lab Invest 91: 63-84).Although many advances have been made detailing the mechanisms of renaltubular cell death following ischemic AKI, the trigger that orchestratesrenal and systemic inflammation following ischemic AKI remains unknown.While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, extra-renaleffects of ischemic AKI may explain the disproportionately highmortality in patients with AKI. Therefore, ways to prevent thesesystemic, extra-renal complications from AKI would contribute greatly toimproved patient care and survival.

As described herein, renal tubular cell death and acute reduction inrenal function after ischemic AKI led to drastic reductions in renal andplasma renalase levels with a resultant increase in plasmanorepinephrine. These findings are consistent with the explanation thatkidney proximal tubule is a major source of circulating renalase.Moreover, the data suggest that secreted renalase is degraded rapidly inplasma and constant new renalase synthesis and release by the kidneymust occur to maintain normal plasma renalase levels. Furthermore, sincekidney and plasma renalase levels rapidly decreased after ischemic AKIin mice, urine and plasma renalase may also serve as a novel andsensitive biomarker for the early detection of ischemic AKI.

Recombinant renalase therapy provides a novel therapeutic tool for theprevention and treatment of AKI as the powerful protective effect ofrecombinant renalase against renal IR injury has been described herein.Specifically, exogenous recombinant renalase attenuated renal tubularnecrosis (Jablonski renal injury score). Furthermore, the reduced influxof pro-inflammatory neutrophils and macrophages into the kidney andrenal tubular apoptosis after renal IR in recombinant renalase-treatedmouse kidneys was demonstrated. These data are consistent with theexplanation that exogenous administration of human recombinant renalaseprovides powerful renal protection against ischemic AKI by targeting all3 pathways (necrosis, apoptosis and inflammation) of renal cell injury.

The recombinant renalase (1.5 mg/kg) provided significant but partialrenal protection (creatinine decreased from ˜2.4 mg/dL to 1.4 mg/dL)most likely due to the severity of the ischemic AKI model describedherein (30 min. warm ischemia). Thirty min. of renal ischemia would havecaused significant renal tubular necrosis during ischemia that may notbe rescued with renalase treatment. It was also observed that renalasedoes not provide dose-dependent protection and at doses of 4.5 mg/kgthere was some reversal of protection. It is likely that high dose (4.5mg/kg) failed to provide increased renal protection since renalasecauses dose-dependent reduction in systemic blood pressure (Xu et al.,2005, J Clin Invest 115: 1275-1280). A previous study showed thatrenalase at a 4 mg/kg dose reduced mean arterial pressure by ˜40% (Xu etal., 2005, J Clin Invest 115: 1275-1280). This observation is consistentwith the explanation that the reduction in systemic blood pressure mayhave negated the renal protective effects of high dose recombinantrenalase.

Recombinant renalase therapy was also partially protective whenadministered 30 min. after renal ischemia. Accordingly, recombinantrenalase therapy may be effective for a diverse group of patients atrisk for ischemic AKI. While renal ischemia can be anticipated in manysurgical procedures, a significant number of patients present to thehospital after renal ischemic injury has already occurred. Post-ischemictherapy for AKI will increase the translational, as well as clinicalsignificance, because not all ischemic AKI can be anticipated inadvance. However, significant differences in the efficacy of renalaseadministered 10 min. before renal ischemia and 30 min. after reperfusionwere noted. Although not wishing to be bound by any particular theory,this may be because of the severity of early reperfusion injury thatoccurs after 30 min. warm kidney ischemia. It appears that recombinantrenalase must be present in circulation to counteract the significantrenal injury that occurs during 30 min. after reperfusion.

As described herein, increases in plasma norepinephrine levels weregreater in renalase KO mice compared to the renalase WT mice after renalIR injury. Wu et al. have also demonstrated that plasma levels ofcatecholamines, including epinephrine, dopamine and norepinephrine, areincreased in renalase KO mice (Wu et al., 2011, Kidney Int 79: 853-860).It was also shown in the studies described herein that renalase KO micesuffered increased renal tubular injury after renal IR. Furthermore,increased TNF-α, MCP-1, and MIP-2 were demonstrated after renal IR inrenalase deficient mice. In particular, MIP-2 is a chemokine involved ininflammation and immunoregulation and is a potent regulator ofneutrophil chemotaxis (Lemay et al., 2000, Transplantation 69: 959-963).Consistent with the findings described herein, renalase KO mice haveexacerbated myocardial necrosis due to IR (Wu et al., 2011, Kidney Int79: 853-860). Taken together, renalase deficiency appears to exacerbateischemic organ injury and results in higher plasma catecholamine levels.

Although not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the findingsdescribed herein are consistent with the explanation that renalprotective effects of recombinant renalase are, at least in part, due toincreased metabolism of plasma and tissue catecholamines. It is shownherein that recombinant renalase-mediated renal protection also resultedin significantly reduced plasma catecholamines levels. Increasedcatecholamine levels after ischemic AKI may exacerbate kidney injury bydecreasing renal blood flow as well as by direct effects on renaltubules and immune cells. Catecholamines have been implicated inpromoting tissue and organ injury in sepsis and systemic inflammatoryresponse syndrome (Miksa et al., 2009, PLoS One 4: e5504; Wang et al.,2000, Biochim Biophys Acta 1535: 36-44). For example, gut-derivednorepinephrine has been implicated in causing hepatic injury andsystemic inflammation in sepsis (Koo et al., 2000, Int J Mol Med 5:457-465; Yang et al., 2000, Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 279:G1274-G1281; Zhou et al., 2004, Biochim Biophys Acta 1689: 212-218).Previous studies have shown that intestine-derived norepinephrineactivates hepatic Kupffer cell alpha2-adrenoceptors to increase TNF-αgeneration and release (Miksa et al., 2009, PLoS One 4: e5504; Yang etal., 2000, Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 279: G1274-G1281;Yang et al., 2001, Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 281:G1014-G1021; Zhou et al., 2001, Biochim Biophys Acta 1537: 49-57). Inseptic rats, alpha2 adrenergic receptors upregulate in Kupffer cells topotentiate inflammatory response and organ injury (Miksa et al., 2009,PLoS One 4: e5504). Furthermore, alpha1 adrenergic receptors increaseLPS-mediated induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human monocytesand macrophages (Grisanti et al., 2011, J Pharmacol Exp Ther 338:648-657). Therefore, both alpha1 and alpha2 adrenergic receptors areimplicated in pro-inflammatory effects of increased circulatingcatecholamines Supporting a pathogenic role of alpha adrenergicreceptors against ischemic AKI, it was found that blockade of alphaadrenergic receptors provided significant renal protection in renalaseWT as well as renalase KO mice.

The methods and materials of this example are now described.

Synthesis of Recombinant Human Renalase

Human recombinant renalase was synthesized as described (Desir et al,2012, J. of the Am. Heart Assn, 1(4):e002634).

Murine Model of Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion (IR) Injury

Adult male renalase deficient (KO) mice (Wu et al., 2011, Kidney Int 79:853-860) on a C57BL/6 background were subjected to renalischemia/reperfusion (IR) as described (Kim et al., 2009, Kidney Int 75:809-823; Kim et al., 2010, Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 299(2):F347-58).Renalase KO or wild type (WT) mice (C57BL/6 from Harlan Labs,Indianapolis, Ind.) were subjected to sham-operation or to 20 min.(moderate) or 30 min. (severe) renal ischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion. Totest the renal protective effects of recombinant human renalase, micewere pretreated with saline (vehicle) or with recombinant renalase (0.5,1.5 or 4.5 mg/kg, s.c.) 10 min. prior to 30 min. renal ischemia. It wasalso tested whether renalase treatment after completion of renalischemia also provides renal protection. Separate cohorts of mice weretreated with saline or with renalase (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.) 30 min. or 60min. after reperfusion of the ischemic kidney. To test whether blockingalpha receptors would mimic the renal protective effects of humanrecombinant renalase administration, phentolamine (an alpha receptorantagonist, 5 mg/kg, i.p.) was given in some mice 15 min. before renalischemia.

Measurement of Renal Function

Plasma creatinine was measured as described with an enzymatic creatininereagent kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (Thermo FisherScientific, Waltham, Mass.) (Slot, 1965, J Clin Lab Invest 17: 381-387).

Measurement of Plasma Norepinephrine

Plasma norepinephrine in mice subjected to sham-operation or to renal IRwas measured with a commercial ELISA kit according to the manufacturer'sinstructions (Rocky Mountain Diagnostics, Colorado Springs, Colo.).

Histological Detection of Necrosis, Apoptosis and NeutrophilInfiltration

An established grading scale of necrotic injury (0-4, Renal InjuryScore) to the proximal tubules was used for the histopathologicalassessment of IR-induced damage as outlined by Jablonski et al. (1983,Transplantation 35: 198-204) and as described in previous studies (Leeet al., 2004, J Am Soc Nephrol 15: 102-111; Lee et al., 2004, Am JPhysiol Renal Physiol 286: F298-F306). Apoptosis was detected afterrenal IR with TUNEL staining as described (Park et al., 2011, Lab Invest91: 63-84) using a commercially available in situ cell death detectionkit (Roche, Indianapolis, Ind.) according to the instructions providedby the manufacturer. Kidney neutrophil and macrophage infiltrations wereassessed with immunohistochemistry 24 hr. after IR as describedpreviously (Park et al., 2011, Lab Invest 91: 63-84). Neutrophils andmacrophages infiltrating the kidney were quantified in 5-7 randomlychosen 200× (neutrophils) or 400× (macrophages) microscope images fieldsin the corticomedullary junction and results were expressed asneutrophils counted per 200-400× field.

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction and ImmunoblottingAnalyses for Mouse Renalase

mRNA encoding mouse renalase was measured with RT-PCR as described (Kimet al., 2010, Am J Nephrol 31: 353-362). GAPDH mRNA was also measured tocontrol for equal RNA input. In addition, mouse kidney cortex were alsocollected for immunoblotting analyses of renalase (Abcam, Cambridge,Mass.) and β-actin (internal protein loading control, Sigma) asdescribed previously (Kim et al., 2010, Am J Nephrol 31: 353-362).

Measurement of Pro-Inflammatory mRNA Expression after Intestinal IR

Kidney inflammation after renal IR in mice were additionally determinedby measuring mRNA encoding markers of inflammation, including IL-17A,intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractiveprotein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), tumornecrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-6 (liver and kidney only). RT-PCR wasperformed as described (Park et al., 2011, Lab Invest 91: 63-84).

Coimmunolocalization of Endogenous Renalase with E-Cadherin or Megalinin Pig Kidney

The renalase antibody was synthesized against human renalase sequence.Renalase immunohistochemistry was performed in pig kidneys. Pig kidneyslices were fixed, permeabilized and incubated with anti-renalase 28-4(raised against renalase peptide EAGTKIDVPWAGQYITSNPC (SEQ ID NO: 1) andwith either anti-E-cadherin (BD Biosciences) or anti-megalin primaryantibody for 2 hr. Secondary antibodies (Alexa488-goat anti-rabbit fordetecting renalase) and Alexa555-goat anti-mouse (Molecular Probes, fordetecting E-cadherin or megalin) were then applied. Slides were imageswith a fluorescence microscope (Carl Zeiss, Inc.) and photographed usinga SPOT camera software (Diagnostic Instruments, Inc.).

Statistical Analysis

The data were analyzed with Student's t-test when comparing meansbetween two groups or one-way ANOVA plus Tukey's post hoc multiplecomparison test when comparing multiple groups. Two-way ANOVA plusBonferroni posttest was used to test the effects of sham operation orrenal IR injury on different mouse strains or treatment groups. Theordinal values of the renal injury scores were analyzed by theMann-Whitney nonparametric test. In all cases, a probability statistic<0.05 was taken to indicate significance. All data are expressedthroughout the text as means±SEM.

The results of this example are now described.

Renalase is Selectively Expressed in Renal Proximal Tubules

FIG. 1A shows co-immunolocalization analyses of pig kidney tissueincubated with antibodies against megalin (a marker for proximal renaltubules) or renalase. Renalase and megalin stain perfectly overlapindicating that renalase is expressed in renal proximal tubules.Co-immunolocalization studies with renalase and E-cadherin (a marker fordistal renal tubules) were also performed (FIG. 1B). Unlike megalin,E-cadherin does not co-localize with renalase in pig kidneys. These dataindicate selective expression of renalase in renal proximal tubules. Therenalase antibody also detected renalase in mouse proximal tubules.

Plasma Norepinephrine Levels after Sham-Operation or Renal IR in Mice

Plasma norepinephrine concentration increased 24 hr. after renal IR inrenalase WT mice (>2 fold compared to sham-operated renalase WT mice,N=3-5, FIG. 2). The increase in plasma norepinephrine concentration waseven higher in renalase deficient mice after renal IR (>5 fold comparedto sham-operated renalase KO mice).

Plasma and Kidney Renalase Expression after Renal IR

Immunoblotting for plasma renalase revealed significant reductions inplasma renalase 5 hr. and 24 hr. after renal IR (FIG. 3A, n=4-5).Consistent with this decrease in plasma renalase, kidney renalase mRNAexpression was significantly attenuated 24 hr. after renal IR (FIG. 3B,n=4).

Renalase Deficient Mice have Increased Ischemic AKI after Renal IR

Baseline plasma creatinine values were similar between renalase WT andrenalase KO subjected to sham-operation (anesthesia, laparotomy, rightnephrectomy and recovery, FIG. 4A). Plasma creatinine increasedsignificantly in renalase WT and renalase KO mice subjected to moderate(20 min) or severe (30 min) renal IR compared to sham-operated mice(FIG. 4A, n=4-6). However, renalase KO mice had significantly increasedrenal injury indicated by higher plasma creatinine levels compared torenalase WT mice after both moderate and severe renal IR injury.

Renal Protective Effects of Exogenous Human Recombinant RenalaseAdministration

Pretreatment with exogenous human recombinant renalase protects againstrenal IR injury. Plasma creatinine significantly increased in vehicle(saline)-treated mice subjected to 30 min. renal IR compared tosham-operated mice (FIG. 4B, n=4-6). Pretreatment with human recombinantrenalase (0.5, 1.5 or 4.5 mg/kg s.c. 10 min. before renal ischemia)significantly attenuated the increases in plasma creatinine in mice.However, higher dose of human recombinant renalase (4.5 mg/kg) providedreduced renal protection when compared with the recombinant renalasedose of 1.5 mg/kg. Exogenous renalase (1.5 mg/kg) decreased plasmanorepinephrine levels in mice subjected to renal IR injury (vehicleinjected mice plasma norepinephrine=2.4±0.13 ng/mL, n=4 vs. renalaseinjected mice plasma norepinephrine=1.6±0.2 ng/mL, N=4, P<0.05)consistent with its renal protective effects.

Recombinant renalase treatment after renal reperfusion (after completionof renal ischemia) protected against renal IR injury. FIG. 4C shows thatrecombinant renalase (1.5 mg/kg) given 30 min. after reperfusion wasprotective against renal IR injury (n=4-6). Administration ofrecombinant renalase 60 min. after did not provide renal protectionagainst IR injury.

Renal Protective Effects of Alpha Adrenergic Receptor Blockade

Blocking alpha adrenergic receptors mimics the renal protective effectsof human recombinant renalase administration. Phentolamine (anon-specific but selective alpha adrenergic receptor antagonist, 5mg/kg, i.p.) produced significant renal protection in renalase WT micesubjected to renal 30 min. IR injury (FIG. 4D). Furthermore,phentolamine also protected renalase KO mice against 30 min. renal IRinjury (FIG. 4D).

Renalase Modulates Renal Tubular Necrosis after IR

Renalase deficient mice subjected to moderate renal IR injury (20 min.renal ischemia) developed exacerbated renal histological injury comparedto the renalase WT mice (increased tubular necrosis, proteinaceous castswith increased congestion, FIG. 5A, top panels, representative of 4-6experiments). In contrast and consistent with the plasma creatininedata, renalase WT mice treated with human recombinant renalase (1.5mg/kg) had dramatically reduced injury compared to vehicle-treatedrenalase WT mice (FIG. 5A, bottom panels). The Jablonski scale(Jablonski et al., 1983, Transplantation 35: 198-204) renal injury score(scale: 0-4) was used to grade renal tubular necrosis 24 hr. after renalIR (FIG. 5B, N=4-6). Renalase KO mice subjected to moderate renal IRinjury (20 min. renal ischemia) showed severe acute tubular necrosis(with renal injury scores>3) unlike renalase WT mice subjected to 20min. renal IR injury. In contrast, renalase WT mice treated with humanrecombinant renalase had significantly lower renal injury scorescompared to vehicle-treated renalase WT mice subjected to 30 min. renalIR injury.

Exogenous Renalase Decreases Renal Apoptosis, Neutrophil Infiltrationand Macrophage Infiltration after IR

TUNEL staining detected apoptotic renal cells in kidney of micesubjected to renal IR with predominant proximal tubule cell apoptosis(FIG. 6A, magnification 100×, representative of 4 experiments). Unlikethe kidneys of sham-operated mice, 30 min. of renal ischemia and 24 hr.of reperfusion resulted in severe apoptosis in the kidneys of vehicle(saline)-treated mice (FIG. 6A). Recombinant renalase (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.)given 10 min. before renal ischemia significantly reduced the number ofapoptotic TUNEL-positive cells in the kidney (FIG. 6B, N=4).

FIG. 7A shows representative images of neutrophil immunohistochemistryof kidneys (magnification 200×, representative of 4 experiments) frommice subjected to 30 min. of renal ischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion or tosham-operation. There was significant neutrophil infiltration in thekidneys of mice treated with saline and subjected to 24 hr. renal IR. Insham-operated mice, no neutrophils in the kidney were able to bedetected. Mice treated with renalase before renal ischemia hadsignificantly reduced number of neutrophils infiltrating the kidneyafter IR (FIG. 7B, N=4). FIG. 7C shows representative images ofmacrophage (F4/80) immunohistochemistry of kidneys (magnification 400×,representative of 3-4 experiments) from mice subjected to 30 min. ofrenal ischemia and 24 hr. reperfusion or to sham-operation. There wassignificantly increased macrophage infiltration (brown stain) in thekidneys of mice treated with saline and subjected to 24 hr. renal IR.Mice treated with recombinant renalase before renal ischemia hadsignificantly reduced number of macrophages infiltrating the kidneyafter IR (FIG. 7D).

Renalase Deficiency Increases Pro-Inflammatory Gene Expression in theKidney after IR

The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNAs in the kidney wasmeasured (TNF-α, ICAM-1, MCP-1 and MIP-2) 24 hr. after renal IR withRT-PCR (primer sequences listed in Table 1). Renalase WT micesignificantly increased expression of all pro-inflammatory mRNAsexamined compared to the sham-operated renalase WT mice (FIG. 8).Moreover, renalase deficient mice had even greater increases in TNF-α,MCP-1 and MIP-2 expression without any changes in ICAM-1 expressioncompared to renalase WT mice.

TABLE 1 Primers used to amplify cDNAs basedon published GenBank sequences for mice Product Annealing AccessionSequence Size Cycle Temperature Primers Number (Sense/Antisense)SEQ ID NO (bp) Number (° C.) TNF-a X026115′-TACTGAACTTCGGGGTGATTGGTCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 11) 290 24 655′-CAGCCTTGTCCCTTGAAGAGAACC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 12) ICAM-1 X522645′-TGTTTCCTGCCTCTGAAGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 13) 409 21 605′-CTTCGTTTGTGATCCTCCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 14) MCP-1 NM_0113335′-ACCTGCTGCTACTCATTCAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 15) 312 22 605′-TTGAGGTGGTTGTGGAAAAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 16) MIP-2 X537985′-CCAAGGGTTGACTTCAAGAAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 17) 282 22 605′-AGCGAGGCACATCAGGTACG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 18) Renalase NC_000085.65′-TGACCTTGTCATCCTCACCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 19) 295 28 655′-AACTCCAAATGGGACAGTGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 20) GAPDH M325995′-ACCACAGTCCATGCCATCAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 21) 450 15 655′-CACCACCCTGTTGCTGTAGCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 22)

Example 2: Protective Effect of Renalase and Renalase Peptides in AKIand Acute Cellular Injury

Renalase Polypeptide and Peptide Sequences

RP 224- (SEQ ID NO: 2) CVSIDNKKRNI RP 220- (SEQ ID NO: 3)CIRFVSIDNKKRNIESSEIG RP H220- (SEQ ID NO: 4) HHHHHHCIRFVSIDNKKRNIESSEIGRP A220- (SEQ ID NO: 5) IRFVSIDNAAANIESSEIG RP 220 SCRAMBLED-(SEQ ID NO: 6) CSKRIFKVISSIEDNNERG RP 128- (SEQ ID NO: 7)FRHRVTQINLRDDKWEVSKQ RP 19- (SEQ ID NO: 8) LLRRQTSGPLYLAVWDKAEDRenalase (NP_001026879.2)—

(SEQ ID NO: 9) MAQVLIVGAGMTGSLCAALLRRQTSGPLYLAVWDKAEDSGGRMTTACSPHNPQCTADLGAQYITCTPHYAKKHQRFYDELLAYGVLRPLSSPIEGMVMKEGDCNFVAPQGISSIIKHYLKESGAEVYFRHRVTQINLRDDKWEVSKQTGSPEQFDLIVLTMPVPEILQLQGDITTLISECQRQQLEAVSYSSRYALGLFYEAGTKIDVPWAGQYITSNPCIRFVSIDNKKRNIESSEIGPSLVIHTTVPFGVTYLEHSIEDVQELVFQQLENILPGLPQPIATKCQKWRHSQVTNAAANCPGQMTLHHKPFLACGGDGFTQSNFDGCITSALCVLEALKNYIRenalase (NP_060833.1)—

(SEQ ID NO: 10) MAQVLIVGAGMTGSLCAALLRRQTSGPLYLAVWDKAEDSGGRMTTACSPHNPQCTADLGAQYITCTPHYAKKHQRFYDELLAYGVLRPLSSPIEGMVMKEGDCNFVAPQGISSIIKHYLKESGAEVYFRHRVTQINLRDDKWEVSKQTGSPEQFDLIVLTMPVPEILQLQGDITTLISECQRQQLEAVSYSSRYALGLFYEAGTKIDVPWAGQYITSNPCIRFVSIDNKKRNIESSEIGPSLVIHTTVPFGVTYLEHSIEDVQELVFQQLENILPGLPQPIATKCQKWRHSQVPSAGVILGCAKSPWM MAIGFPIIProtective Effect of Recombinant Renalase in Ischemic and Toxic AKI

Experiments were performed to assess whether ischemic AKI in mice leadsto renalase deficiency and whether renalase deficiency directlyexacerbates ischemic AKI. Thus, experiments were performed to testwhether 1) ischemic AKI leads to reduced kidney and plasma renalaselevels, 2) ischemic AKI-induced renalase deficiency leads to elevatedplasma catecholamine (norepinephrine) levels, 3) renalase deficient miceexhibit increased renal IR injury and 4) exogenous administration ofrecombinant human renalase directly protects against ischemic AKI inmice.

In the studies described herein, it was found that administration ofrecombinant human renalase reduced plasma catecholamine levels andameliorated ischemic acute kidney injury in renalase wild type mice byreducing renal tubular necrosis, inflammation and apoptosis. Takentogether, these data show that renalase serves to protect againstischemic acute kidney injury by reducing renal tubular necrosis,apoptosis and inflammation.

Renalase Protects Against Cisplatin-Mediated AKI in Mice

The efficacy of recombinant renalase in treating cisplatin-induced AKIwas investigated, and the mechanisms that mediate its protective actionwere assessed. Cisplatin (20 mg/kg) was administered by intra-peritonealinjection to either WT or renalase KO mice. The mice were sacrificed 3days later. Blood was collected for BUN and creatinine measurements, andkidneys harvested for histologic examination, immunofluorescence (IF),and western blotting (WB). One renal pathologist, masked to the identityof the study animal, reviewed each kidney specimen. Pathologic featureswere scored using an ordinal rating scale (0-4; 0=none; 1=<25%,2=26-50%; 3=51-75%; 4=76-100%) for the presence of tubular necrosis.Morphometry of renal cortex and medulla was performed using pointcounting technique. Points falling on injured tubules, were counted andthe percentage of lesion area was calculated as percentage of totalpoints counted

As shown in FIG. 9, three days post treatment with cisplatin, plasmacreatinine was significantly higher in renalase KO mice compared to WT(1.82±0.56 vs. 0.71±0.02 mg/dl, n=6, P=0.021), as was the renal injuryscore (KO=56.62±7.38%, n=6, vs. WT=17.07±4.03, n=5; p<0.0002), thedegree of apoptosis (2-fold increase in TUNEL staining, p<0.005), andmacrophage infiltration (35% increase in F4/80 staining, p<0.05). Thesedata show that renalase protects against cisplatin AKI by decreasingpro-apoptotic signals, and increasing pro-survival signals. Thus,renalase is a useful compound for the treatment of cisplatin AKI.

Renalase has Direct Cellular Effect in Protection Against AKI

The addition of exogenous renalase to cisplatin-treated HK-2 cellsinhibited caspase-3 activation, and increased Bcl-2 expression, and cellsurvival, suggesting that renalase's in vivo protective effect may notbe mediated solely by a reduction in circulating catecholaminesExamination of the crystal structure of renalase and in vitro studiesusing antipeptide monoclonal antibodies led to identification of ahighly conserved renalase peptide (RP H220, 26 aa), which had nodetectable NADH or amine oxidase activity, but protected againstischemia (100 μg given subcutaneously 30 min. prior), andcisplatin-mediated AKI in mice (creatinine measured by HPLC: Sham:0.05±0.002, cisplatin: 0.177±0.02, cisplatin +RP H220; 0.085±0.007, n=3,p=0.012) (FIG. 10). A shorter but related peptide (RP 220, 20 aa) wasless effective, while the shortest related peptide tested (RP 224, 10aa) was not protective. Thus, RP H220 and RP 220 are useful compoundsfor the prevention and treatment of AKI.

Renalase and RP H220 Protects Human Proximal Tubular (HK-2) CellsAgainst Cisplatin- and Oxidant-Mediated Injury

In cultured human proximal tubule epithelial (HK-2) cells, recombinantrenalase (10 μg/ml) significantly reduced necrosis induced with 2 mMH₂O₂ (LDH released at 6 hr=28±2%, N=3) compared to vehicle-treated HK-2cells subjected to H₂O₂ necrosis (LDH=47+3%, N=3, p<0.01). Similarresults were obtained with RP H220.

Cultured HK-2 cells were incubated with 20 μM cisplatin for 24 hourswith and without recombinant renalase. Renalase expression was examinedby Western blot and cell viability (mitochondrial integrity) wasdetermined spectrophotometrically using WST-1, a tetrazolium salt thatis cleaved, by mitochondrial dehydrogenases of metabolically active andviable cells, to formazan (420-480 nm) (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany).As shown in FIG. 11A, HK2 cells exposed to cisplatin for 24 hours showeda marked reduction in renalase expression. The addition of recombinantrenalase not only restored cellular renalase expression but alsoprovided significant protection against cisplatin toxicity, increasedcell viability by ˜50% (FIG. 11B), decreased caspase-3 activation (FIG.11C), and increased Bcl-2 expression (FIG. 11D). Similar results wereobtained with RP H220.

Renalase and RP 220 Signal Through the PI3K/AKT and MAPK Pathways

Since RP H220 has neither detectable oxidase activity, nor significanteffect on systemic blood pressure, and yet protects against ischemic andtoxic AKI in mice, whether renalase's protective effect was in partmediated by a direct cellular effect was assessed. Preliminary resultsindicate that renalase upregulates Bcl-2 expression in HK-2 and humanvein endothelial cells (HUVEC) at 24 hrs (FIG. 12A), and signals throughthe PI3K/AKT pathway by activating AKT (˜45 fold at 15 min), and theMAPK pathway by activating ERK (˜35 fold at 15 min) and down-regulatesJNK (˜95% decrease in JNK-p54/p46 phosphorylation) (FIGS. 12B, 12C, and12D). In cells treated with cisplatin, renalase caused marked andsustained activation of AKT (not shown) and p38 (FIG. 12E). Similarresults were obtained with RP H220 but not with scrambled RP H220. AKThas been shown to promote cell survival by growth factors againstseveral apoptotic stimuli, and Bcl-2 upregulation has been identified asa critical mechanism.

Hemodynamics Effects of RenPep1

The effect of 7 different renalase peptides (FIG. 13) on systemic bloodpressure was examined and found that both IV and subcutaneousadministration of RP 220 administration had a marked and sustainedeffect on systemic blood pressure (FIG. 14A). The effect was specificfor RP 220 since none of the other peptides tested had any measurableeffect on BP.

Renalase mediates its physiological effects through a receptor-mediatedmechanism (See FIG. 15). Renalase peptides RP 220 and RP H220 are usefulcompounds for treating and preventing ischemic and toxic AKI. RP 220 isa potent hypotensive agent and is useful for treating and preventinghypertension and other cardiovascular conditions, such as congestiveheart failure.

Example 3: Acute Renal Ischemia Decreases Urinary Renalase Secretion

Experiments were conducted demonstrating that acute renal ischemiaresults in a decrease in kidney secretion of renalase, which can bedetected as a decrease in renalase level in blood, serum, plasma andurine (FIG. 16).

Example 4: Renalase Lowers Blood Pressure and Protects Against AcuteKidney Injury Via a Receptor-Mediated Mechanism that is Independent ofCatecholamine Metabolism

The data described herein demonstrate that renalase and renalasepeptides devoid of amine oxidase activity, signal via the AKT and MAPKpathways, and that the peptides fully mimic the cytoprotective andhemodynamic actions of recombinant renalase.

Recombinant renalase protein, synthesized as a GST fusion protein in E.coli, has been show to possess amine oxidase activity, and to metabolizeepinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine in vitro. Recombinant renalaseprotein caused a marked decrease in blood pressure when injected intorodents (Xu et al., 2005, J Clin Invest 115:1275-1280). It wassubsequently shown recombinant renalase required NAD(P)H for fullactivity, and the rate of epinephrine (renalase's preferred substrate)metabolism increased 18 fold in the presence of NADH.

Renalase isoforms 3-7 lack large portions of the putative amine oxidasedomain, are significantly shorter than isoforms 1 and 2, and areunlikely to possess oxidase activity. RP-220 is conserved in allrenalase isoforms, including the shortest isoform 7 which lacks thefirst 4 exons. Isoform 1 and RP-220 signal rapidly through the PI3K andMAPK pathways to activate AKT, ERK and p38, which is consistent with theexplanation that they both act by binding to a specific cell surfacereceptor. AKT and ERK activation is generally protective in ischemic AKI(Arany and Safirstein, 2003, Semin Nephrol 23:460-464). Pharmacologicalinhibition of both AKT and ERK abrogated the RP-220's protective effectagainst ischemic AKI confirming their protective role in ischemicinjury.

As is the case in ischemic cardiac injury and ischemic AKI, renalasedeficiency aggravates cisplatin AKI. Renalase and RP-H220 protectagainst cisplatin AKI. In this sense, renalase, and the peptides derivedfrom it, act as general survival factors interdicting pathways that leadto cell death under stress. Principal among those pathways are the MAPKsand AKT (Safirstein, 2004, Int Suppl:S62-66; Arany and Safirstein, 2003,Semin Nephrol 23:460-464). By shifting the balance between ERK and JNKactivation toward greater activation of ERK and AKT, cells can resistoxidant, or toxic exposure (Arany et al., 2004, Kidney Int.65:1231-1239; Arany et al., 2004, American Journal of Physiology: RenalPhysiology 287:F543-549; Pabla and Dong, 2008, Kidney Int 73:994-1007).Cisplatin-induced cell death is EGFR/Src/ERK signaling dependent inmouse proximal tubule cells. It would appear that renalase and itsderived active peptides engage these pathways in a way quite similar toother peptides more classically associated with growth and survivalunder stress.

RP-H220 was more effective than RP-220 against ischemic AKI. Although nodifference in the signaling patterns of the two peptides in HK-2 cellswas detected, it is possible that subtle differences exist in theoverall pattern of AKT and MAPK signaling, accounting for the greaterefficacy of RP-H220 in ischemic AKI. An alternative and perhaps morelikely explanation for the difference in the protective effects ofRP-220 and RP-H220 is the marked difference in their hemodynamiceffects. RP-220 reduces blood pressure while RP-H220 does not. Thehypotension induced by RP-220 would compromise renal blood flow andpartially counteract its cytoprotective effect.

As described herein, both RP-220 and RP-H220 are cytoprotective, butonly RP-220 decreases blood pressure. These observations are consistentwith the explanation that the two peptides could bind to a singlerenalase receptor with different signaling patterns. Alternatively, theycould bind to two different, but related receptors. The rapid fall inblood pressure suggests that RP-220 causes peripheral vasodilatation.Pharmacological inhibition of the D1 like receptor had no effect on thehypotensive response to RP-220, consistent with the explanation that thedopamine receptor does not play a role in mediating RP-220's hemodynamiceffect.

While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the resultsdescribed herein are consistent with the explanation that RP-220decreases blood pressure by interacting with a previously characterizedG-coupled receptor protein (GPCR), a receptor guanylyl cyclase (RGC), orone of the orphan GPCRs and RCGs.

The described herein demonstrate a critical region of renalase moleculethat mediates its cytoprotective and hemodynamic effects. Furthermore,it is shown that these two effects can be dissociated. Finally, renalaseis shown to protect against toxic and ischemic injury and to lower bloodpressure not by its amine oxidase property, but rather by itsinteraction with an as yet unidentified receptor that activatesintracellular signaling in a manner that promotes cell survival.

The methods and materials used in this example are now described.

Synthesis and Analysis of Recombinant Human Renalase and RenalasePeptides

Human recombinant renalase was synthesized as described (Desir et al.,2012, J Am Heart Assoc. 1:e002634). Renalase peptides were acetylated atthe amino terminus and purified to 98% homogeneity (United Peptides,Herndon, Va.). Renalase enzymatic activity was measured as previouslydescribed (Desir et al., 2012, J Am Heart Assoc. 1:e002634). Renalaseexpression was detected using an anti-renalase monoclonal antibodygenerated against the renalase peptide RP-220 (amino acid

220-239 of hRenalase1) (Desir et al., 2012, J Am Heart Assoc.1:e002634).

Murine Model of Cisplatin AKI

Cisplatin (15-20 mg/kg) was administered by intraperitoneal injection(IP) to either WT or renalase KO mice under brief isoflurane anesthesia.The animals were sacrificed 3 days later. Blood was collected for BUNand creatinine measurements, and kidneys harvested for histologicexamination, immunofluorescence (IF), and western blotting (WB). Onerenal pathologist, masked to the identity of the study animal, reviewedeach kidney specimen. Pathologic features were scored using an ordinalrating scale (0-4; 0=none; 1=<25%, 2=26-50%; 3=51-75%; 4=76-100%) forthe presence of tubular necrosis. Morphometry of renal cortex andmedulla was performed using the point counting technique. Points fallingon injured tubules were counted, and the percentage of lesion area wascalculated as percentage of total points counted.

Murine Model of Renal Ischemia Reperfusion (IR) Injury

After animal care and use committee approval, adult male C57BL/6 (HarlanLabs, Indianapolis, Ind.) were subjected to sham-operation or to 30minutes of renal ischemia followed by 24 hrs of reperfusion aspreviously described (Lee et al., 2004, American journal of physiology.Renal physiology 286:F298-306). To test the renal protective effects ofrenalase peptides (RP-220, RP-H220 and RP-224), mice were pretreatedwith saline (vehicle) or with renalase peptides (100 μg subcutaneous) 10to 30 minutes prior to renal ischemia.

In Vitro Model of Cisplatin and Hydrogen Peroxide Toxicity

HK2 cells (human proximal tubular line) obtained from ATTC (Manassas,Va., USA) were cultured in DMEM/F12 supplemented with glutamine, 10% FBSand antibiotics, and were maintained at 37° C. in 5% CO2. Cells wereexposed to cisplatin (20 μM) in the presence or absence of renalase for24 hrs, and cell viability was assessed by the WST1 method (RocheApplied Science, Germany). Cells were then harvested in RIPA buffer (20mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM Na2EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 1% NP-40, 1%sodium deoxycholate, 2.5 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1 mMβ-glycerophosphate, 1 mM Na3VO4, 1 μg/ml leupeptin) supplemented with aprotease and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail (Roche Applied Science,Germany). Proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting wascarried out using the following antibodies: anti-renalase monoclonal(Desir et al., 2012, J Am Heart Assoc. 1:e002634; (Lee et al., 2013, JAm Soc Nephrol 24:445-455); anti caspase 3 (Cell Signaling Technology,MA, USA) and anti Bcl2 (Thermo Scientific, USA). Necrotic injury in HK-2cells (ATCC, Manassas, Va.) was induced with exposure to 2 mM H₂O₂ for2-8 hr and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released into cell culture mediawas measured as described using a commercial LDH assay kit (Promega,Madison, Wis.) (Lee and Emala, 2002, American journal of physiology.Renal physiology 282:F844-852).

Measurement of Renal Function

Blood was collected from mice anesthetized with isoflurane via cardiacpuncture into a heparinized syringe and was subsequently centrifuged toseparate plasma. Samples were submitted to the Yale O'Brien KidneyCenter for measurement of BUN and creatinine. Plasma creatinine wasmeasured either by an enzymatic creatinine reagent kit according to themanufacturer's instructions (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass.)or by HPLC. These methods of creatinine measurement largely eliminatethe interferences from mouse plasma chromagens, known to occur with theJaffe method.

Blood Pressure Measurements

Systolic and diastolic pressure and heart rate were measured inanesthetized mice as previously described (Desir et al., 2012, J AmHeart Assoc. 1:e002634).

Histological Detection of Apoptosis and Macrophage Infiltration

Kidney apoptosis was detected in WT and KO mice with TUNEL staining asdescribed using a commercially available in situ apoptosis kit (EMDMillipore, Mass., US) according to the instructions provided by themanufacturer. Kidney macrophage infiltrations were assessed withimmunohistochemistry 72 hours after treatment with cisplatin or renalasetreatment using anti-F4/80 (AbCAM, MA, US) staining. The primaryantibody was 1:80 diluted. It was subsequently detected with HRPconjugated Rat IgG, localized with DAB, counterstained with DAB, andmounted with resinous mounting media. The kidney TUNEL staining andmacrophage infiltration were quantified in 5 randomly chosen microscopeimage fields in the cortico-medullary junction.

Statistical Analysis

When appropriate, the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance byranks was used to evaluate statistical significance. When theKruskal-Wallis test revealed statistical significance, the Mann-Whitneytest was used for pairwise comparisons. All data are mean±SEM, andvalues of P<0.05 were accepted as a statistically significantdifference. Statistical analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism(GraphPad Software, Inc.).

The results of this example are now described.

Recombinant Renalase Protects HK-2 Cells Against Oxidant and CisplatinInjury

It's been previously shown that renalase deficiency aggravates ischemicAKI (Lee et al., 2013, J Am Soc Nephrol 24:445-455). In this study, itwas assessed whether renalase deficiency would similarly exacerbatetoxic AKI from cisplatin (Safirstein, 2004, Int Suppl:562-66). Threedays post treatment with cisplatin (20 mg/kg, by intraperitonealinjection), plasma creatinine was significantly higher in renalase KOmice compared to WT mice (1.82±0.56 vs. 0.71±0.02 mg/dl, n=6, P=0.021)(FIG. 17A). Renalase deficient mice developed worse renal histologicalinjury compared to renalase WT mice (FIG. 17B). Renalase KO mice showedmore severe acute tubular necrosis compared to WT mice (injury score=:KO=56.62±7.38% n=6, WT=17.07±4.03, n=5; P=0.0002). The number ofapoptotic renal cells (reddish stain) was increased 2 fold in cisplatintreated KO mice compared to WT mice (FIG. 17C). Likewise, renalmacrophage infiltration was significantly increased (brown stain) in KOmice compared to WT mice (FIG. 17D). In order to elucidate the mechanismof renal protection by renalase, it was assessed whether recombinantrenalase could protect cells in culture. In HK-2 cells, recombinantrenalase significantly reduced necrosis induced with 2 mM H₂O₂ comparedto vehicle-treated HK-2 cells (FIG. 18A). HK-2 cells exposed tocisplatin for 24 hours showed decreased cell viability (FIG. 18B, leftpanel) and renalase expression (FIG. 18B, right panel), both of whichwere reversed by the addition of exogenous renalase. Renalase treatmentinhibited caspase-3 activation (FIG. 18C) and increased Bcl-2 expression(FIG. 18D). Although not wishing to be bound to any particular theory,these in vitro cell data are consistent with the explanation thatrenalase's in vivo protective effect may not be mediated solely by areduction in circulating catecholamines

Renalase's Protection Against Cellular and Organ Injury is Independentof its Enzymatic Function

There is a single renalase gene (10 exons), which undergoes alternativesplicing to give rise to at least 6 isoforms (Renalase 1-7) asdocumented by PCR of human tissue (Hennebry, 2010, Mol Psychiatry15:234-236) and gene sequencing data (GENBANK) (FIG. 19A). The carboxyterminal half of exon 6 is present in all spliced isoforms so fardetected. Examination of renalase's crystal structure indicates thatrenalase peptides 220 and 224 (RP-220 and RP-224, FIG. 19A) are locatedon the external surface of the protein (Milani et al., 2011, J Mol Biol411:463-473). While the monoclonal antibody raised against RP-220 didnot alter the amine oxidase activity of renalase, the antibody wascytotoxic to CCL-119 cells (Acute lymphoblastic leukemic cell line,ATCC) (FIG. 19B). These findings indicated that the epitope isaccessible to the antibody and is likely located on the external surfaceof the protein. The cytotoxic effect of the antibody in the absence ofaltered amine oxidase activity also suggested that the antibody mightdecrease cell survival by interfering with the interaction of renalasewith a putative binding partner, perhaps a membrane receptor.

These findings are consistent with the explanation that RP-220 couldrepresent the point of contact between renalase and its cognatereceptor. Thus, it was tested whether RP-220, RP-H220 and RP-224 wouldmimic the cytoprotective action of renalase in vitro. In HK-2 cellsincubated with 2 mM H₂O₂, both RP-220 and RP-H220 significantly reducednecrosis compared to vehicle-treated cells (FIG. 19C) at 2 and 4 hrs.RP-224 also was also protective at 2 hrs, but not at 4 hrs. Similarresults were obtained with HK-2 cells exposed to cisplatin for 24 hrs,and as shown in FIG. 19D, renalase, RP-224, RP-220, and RP-H220 improvedHK-2 cell survival.

It was previously shown that recombinant renalase protects mice againstischemic AKI by reducing apoptosis, necrosis and inflammation (Lee etal., 2013, J Am Soc Nephrol 24:445-455). The efficacy of the renalasepeptides was tested in WT mice subjected to 30 min of renal ischemiafollowed by 24 hr reperfusion. RP-220 and RP-H220, administered 30 minprior to ischemia, reduced renal injury (FIG. 19E). RP-H220 was moreeffective than RP-220, while RP-224 was ineffective. None of thesepeptides had any detectable amine or NADH oxidase activity (FIG. 19F),suggesting that the in vitro cytoprotective action of renalase isindependent of its ability to metabolize catecholamines.

AKT and MAPK Activation Critical for the Protective Effect of RenalasePeptides

The finding that renalase peptides with no detectable oxidase activitywere equally effective as recombinant renalase in protecting miceagainst AKI led to a search for mechanisms unrelated to catecholaminesmetabolism. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transductionpathways coordinate cellular responses to various signals, includinghormones, cytokines and growth factors (Kyriakis et al., 2012,Physiological Reviews 92:689-737), and modulate the development andseverity of experimental AKI (Bonventre and Yang, 2011, The Journal ofClinical Investigation 121:4210-4221). Therefore, it was assessedwhether renalase and related peptides signal via protein kinase B (AKT)and MAPK, and that such signaling was critical for their protectiveaction against AKI. The addition of recombinant renalase to HK-2 cellsin culture caused a rapid and transient increase in phosphorylatedExtracellular signal-Regulated Kinase 1 and 2 (ERK) and p38 MAPK (FIG.20A, left panel). Likewise, RP220 induced rapid and transientphosphorylation of ERK, p38 (FIG. 20A, right panel), and protein kinaseB (AKT) (FIG. 20B, left panel). Increased phosphorylation was detectablewithin 1 min of adding RP-H220, with a return to baseline within 60 min(FIG. 20B, right panel). JNK phosphorylation decreased at 60 min.Similar results were obtained with RP-220. In control studies,RP-Scr220, a scrambled version of RP-220, did not activate the AKT andMAPK signaling. Chemical inhibition of ERK and AKT signaling wasemployed to test if these molecules were important mediators ofRP-H220's protective effect in AKI. As shown elsewhere herein, RP-H220ameliorated the renal ischemic injury in WT mice. The MEK1 inhibitor2′-amino 3′ methoxyflavone (PD98059) completely abrogated the peptide'sprotective action (FIG. 20C). A similar result was obtained withPI3K/AKT inhibition by wortmanin (FIG. 20C). In control studies,pretreatment with PD98059 or wortmanin alone without the peptides had noeffect on the severity of AKI in ischemic WT mice (FIG. 20C). Theseresults are consistent with the explanation that the protective effectof renalase in ischemic AKI is mediated, at least in part, throughERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT signaling.

Hemodynamic Effect of Renalase Peptides

As shown in FIG. 19E, RP-H220 was more effective than RP-220 inprotecting against ischemic AKI. Since no difference in MAPK signalingpatterns between the two peptides was detected, it was assessed whetherthe peptides affected systemic hemodynamics differently. The effects ofthe two peptides on blood pressure and heart rate were examined inanesthetized WT mice. As shown in FIG. 14A, a single intravenousinjection of RP-220 caused a profound fall in blood pressure within 30seconds, and for up to two hours. The subcutaneous administration ofRP-220 also decreased blood pressure, with a delay of 30-60 min in theonset of fall in blood pressure (FIG. 21). In marked contrast, neitherintravenous nor subcutaneous injection of RP-H220 had any effect onblood pressure (FIG. 14B). Heart rate increased by 5% in RP-220 treatedmice, but did not change with RP-H220 administration (FIG. 14C). Similarto RP-241 H220, RP-224 and RP-Scr220 had no effect on blood pressure andheart rate. It is reported that activation of the dopamine 1/5 (D1-like)receptor by fenoldopam upregulates renalase gene and protein expression(Wang et al., 2012, Hypertension 60). To test if the hypotensive effectof RP-220 was mediated through D1-like receptors, the effect of D1receptor blocker, SCH23390, was determined in WT mice. Pretreatment withSCH23390 did not counteract the hypotensive effect of RP-220 (mean bloodpressure decrease at 15 min: 11.9±0.9 and 10.5±0 9 mmHg for RP-220 andRP-220+SCH23390, respectively, n=4, P=NS). These data suggest that thehypotensive effect of RP-220 is not mediated via D1-like receptors.

The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, andpublication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specificembodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations ofthis invention may be devised by others skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appendedclaims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments andequivalent variations.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising a polypeptide comprising at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 